HL Deb 27 July 2000 vol 616 cc88-9WA
Lord Swinfen

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Hayman on 3 July (W A 123), what monitoring will be undertaken and what enforcement action will be put in hand to ensure that crops produced from the unauthorised sowing of genetically modified seed will not enter the food chain. [HL3219]

Baroness Hayman

The Government has written to all farmers who may have sown the affected seed varieties giving details of the relevant arrangements which have been made under the EU Arable Area Payments Scheme and warning them that it would be an offence to market crops grown from the affected seed lots. Government inspectors are auditing the arrangements put in place by Advanta Seeds (UK) Ltd to identify the affected farmers and compensate them for the losses associated with crop destruction. We have also alerted processors of oilseed rape to the need to ensure that the affected crops are not marketed and do not enter the food chain.

Lord Swinfen

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will answer Question HL3219 tabled on 5 July before any crops referred to in the Question are harvested and available to enter the food chain. [HL3415]

Baroness Hayman

A reply has been given to the noble Lord today.

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