§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if(a) honey and (b) other food, food ingredients or additives containing GM oilseed rape are permitted lawfully to be sold in the United Kingdom. [96713]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 2 November 1999]: The European Commission, in response to questions from the European Parliament, has advised that honey that contains trace amounts (0.005 per cent.) of pollen from genetically modified crops is not classified as a novel food, and may therefore be lawfully sold throughout the Community.
As far as GM foods, food ingredients or additives derived from oilseed rape are concerned, only one GM variety currently has clearance to be marketed for this purpose. This variety does not however have the necessary authorisation to enable it to be grown commercially in the Community at the present time. It can therefore only be imported for processing.