HC Deb 31 March 1999 vol 328 cc748-50W
Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the monitoring of genetically modified crops. [74100]

Mr. Meacher

[holding answer 11 March 1999]: Monitoring is a key requirement for the safe release of GM crops. Monitoring enables the assumptions made in the risk assessment to be verified, and any unanticipated effects of GMOs to be identified. The legislation in place is quite clear: if evidence comes to light of harm to the environment, action must be taken to restrict or suspend the release.

All research releases of GM crops are monitored throughout the duration of consent, and in most cases post-trial monitoring is also required. This is carried out by the consent-holder on the basis of a monitoring plan which forms part of the application. At least once a year a monitoring report must be submitted to the Secretary of State, and a copy is placed on the statutory public register.

To date, authorisations to place GM products on the market under Part C of Directive 90/220/EEC have not included conditions requiring monitoring. The Directive is currently being amended, to include the introduction of provisions for post market monitoring. The Government strongly support the amendment of the Directive to incorporate these requirements.

Pending the revision of the Directive, EU Environment Ministers agreed in December 1998 to use the flexibility within the existing Directive to introduce with immediate effect new monitoring provisions, based on monitoring proposals in the draft amending Directive. These take into account direct and indirect, and immediate and delayed, effects of GMOs on the environment. Monitoring requirements would be set out on a case by case basis for each product authorisation and enforced by the relevant competent authority.

On top of the new EC requirements, the UK Government have introduced additional measures for the monitoring of GM crops. I announced the agreement reached with the plant breeding industry for a managed development programme for herbicide tolerant GM crops with my right hon. Friend, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, before the House of Lords Select Committee on 21 October 1998.

Farm-scale evaluations will ensure that first commercial plantings of herbicide tolerant GM crops will be strictly limited and monitored for ecological effects alongside comparable plantings of conventional crops. The Government are funding ecological studies of the diversity and abundance of plants and invertebrates associated with the management of GM and non GM crops to test whether there are any significant differences, initially over a four year period. This will assist consideration of what effects GM crops may have on higher species and our agricultural landscape. If ecological monitoring reveals adverse effects then appropriate action will be taken.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the commercial approval of genetically modified crops is required before the farm-scale field trials into their ecological effects begin. [78477]

Mr. Meacher

[holding answer 24 March 1999]: Such approval is not necessary for the evaluations to begin. The farm-scale evaluations of genetically modified oilseed rape which will start this year are covered by an approval for research or other purposes issued under Part B of Directive 90/220/EEC. This year the gm oilseed rape will remain the property of the seed company concerned and will be destroyed at harvest.

The genetically modified maize, which is also to be studied, has Europe wide approval for general cultivation issued under Part C of the Directive by the French Competent Authority on 3 August 1998. However the maize has not yet been entered onto the National List of Seeds in the UK and so the seeds may not be sold. This year the gm maize will remain the property of the seed company concerned and will be destroyed at harvest.

In both cases experimental permits are also required for use of the herbicide, based on gluphosinate ammonium, on the genetically modified crop.

Mr. Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the Government will allow the sale of products for(a) human and (b) animal consumption from the farm-scale field trials into the ecological effects of genetically modified crops. [78476]

Mr. Meacher

[holding answer 24 March 1999]: All genetically modified crops produced this year from the farm-scale evaluations will be destroyed. A decision on the fate of products in subsequent years has not yet been taken, but any sale for human or animal consumption will be dependent on the product receiving all the necessary consents and authorisations.