§ Jackie BallardTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which countries are carrying out GM crop trials; and what the recommended separation distances are in each of those countries between GM and conventional crops. [132251]
§ Ms QuinThis information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Jackie BallardTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what basis the Minister has recommended 50 m as the correct separation distance between conventional and GM crops. [132252]
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§ Ms QuinThe separation distances currently applied for GM crops are set out in guidelines issued by the industry group SCIMAC (the Supply Chain Initiative on Modified Agricultural Crops). These reflect existing knowledge and experience in the production of certified seed, and they specify various distances according to the crop species and whether the conventional crop is for seed, organic or ordinary production. A distance of 50 m is relevant to oilseed rape and forage maize crops where the conventional crop is for ordinary production.
§ Mr. BreedTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the costs of establishing a map-based register of GM crop sites; and if he will make a statement. [131815]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 21 July 2000]: No such estimate has been made as the Government have no plans to introduce a register of this type.
§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 7 July 2000,Official Report, column 350W, on GMOs, when the desk modelling study, and review of the consequences for agriculture of the introduction of GM crops, will be completed; and if the results will be published. [130496]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 17 July 2000]: The desk study on the risks to the agricultural environment from the release of GM crops is nearing completion. The review of the consequences for agriculture of the introduction of GM crops is not due for completion until 2002. The results of both projects will be published in due course.
§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 7 July 2000,Official Report, column 350W, on GMOs, if he will make available information about (a) the causes of the Advanta Seeds contamination and (b) the separation distances used between GM and non-GM crops in the production of the contaminated Advanta Seeds once the Canadian authorities have completed their investigation. [130495]
§ Sandra GidleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will fund further research into the health effects of GM animal feeds on animals. [128609]
§ Ms QuinA rigorous assessment of applications for new GM plants is undertaken by the Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs, including any implications for animals. There is no evidence that the introduction of the current generation of GM crops into animal feedingstuffs has caused any harm to farm animals. My Department is not currently funding research in this area, but the need for research will be kept under review.
§ Mr. GroganTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the progress of the scientific review of separation distances and their relationship with crop varietal purity. [129807]
§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food who will carry out the independent scientific review of the relationship between separation distances and levels of varietal purity and the implications for thresholds of GM presence. [127216]
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