§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his policy on the European Commission amendments to Directive 90/220 (Deliberate Release of Genetically Modified Organisms). [108091]
§ Mr. MeacherThe European Commission's amendments to Directive 90/220/EEC that have been incorporated in the Council's Common Position reflect the political agreement that was reached at the June 1999 Environment Council. The amendments include stricter provisions for environmental risk assessment and 551W monitoring, the time limitation of consents, a tough new labelling regime and the identification and phasing out of antibiotic marker genes where they pose a risk to human health and the environment.