§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the dates on which the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment has met to discuss the contamination by GMOs of rape seed. [123833]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 25 May 2000]: Advanta were unable to give sufficient information at the meeting with officials on 17 April for ACRE to be consulted at that stage. Advanta were initially unable to state for certain what type of GMs were found, the level of GM presence (and how reliable the information was) or which seed batches were involved.
When this information was available the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment were consulted through correspondence with the DETR on 10 May. This is normal procedure for seeking their views on issues outside their normal meeting schedule. The advice was clear on 17 May, prior to the Government's announcement, and ratified at their meeting on 25 May.
2WACRE's advice is that there is no risk to human health or the environment.