§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports he has received regarding commercial cultivation of Novartis genetically modified Bt maize in Germany; and if he will make a statement. [113618]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 9 March 2000]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Minister for the Environment on 9 March 2000, Official Report, column 779W.
Further to this reply, Ministers at MAFF received a press release issued by Novartis in Germany regarding the decision of the German Federal Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Environment to suspend approval of Novartis' genetically modified Bt maize. Novartis believes this decision is not supported by the scientific data. The Government will follow developments on this issue closely, but this does not affect the position stated by my colleague the Minister for the Environment, as there are no plans to cultivate this crop commercially in the UK for at least the next few years.