§ 18. Mr. WebbTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is his policy that genetically modified crops should not be exploited for commercial purposes. [113386]
§ Ms QuinOur policy is that UK industry should not be denied access to GM technology, provided that valid concerns are addressed. The GM industry has agreed that no GM crops will be grown on a commercial basis before the farm scale evaluation programme has been completed.
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§ 22. Dr. GibsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what conclusions he has drawn from the recent OECD conference on genetically modified crops. [113392]
§ Ms QuinThe OECD conference held last week in Edinburgh was extremely useful in bringing together scientific experts, policy regulators and other parties interested in GM crops and food from around the world. The conference allowed a balanced debate, scrutinising the safety assessment systems for GM foods and considering whether and how GM foods and crops could serve the needs of society. It is too early to draw any firm conclusions but we await the chairman's final report with interest.
§ 25. Mr. SwayneTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what procedure he will follow when licensing genetically modified crop varieties. [113395]
§ Ms QuinGenetically modified crops are not licensed. Releases of Genetically Modified Organisms are regulated by the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and secondary legislation made under it. The National Listing of plant varieties (which could include genetically modified varieties) is regulated by the Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 1982. The relevant procedures are set out in the legislation.
§ 26. Dr. NaysmithTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he has taken to provide information to the public concerning the safety of genetically modified foods. [113396]
§ Ms QuinThe Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) is responsible for assessing the safety of genetically modified foods in the UK. The ACNFP already publishes agendas, reports and minutes of its meetings, committee papers and detailed assessment reports on individual GM food applications as well as an Annual Report. In addition the Committee has held a number of open meetings on issues such as postmarket surveillance.
Those seeking novel food approvals have been encouraged for many years to deposit data supporting their applications in the British Library. All new applications will however be made available electronically on the ACNFP website from now on and public comments invited, which the ACNFP can then take into account in reaching its preliminary conclusions. These conclusions will be made available for comment in turn before they are forwarded to the European Commission. The UK is encouraging other European member states to follow a similar approach.
General information about the safety of genetically modified foods is also contained on the Government GM website at www.gm-info.gov.uk. This has been widely publicised.
§ Mr. David HeathTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what restriction is placed on feeding chickens with unprocessed GM maize containing antibiotic-resistant marker genes in(a) the UK and (b) the EU. [113762]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 13 March 2000]: There are no restrictions on feeding GM maize to chickens, provided that the maize concerned has received a 310W marketing consent under Council Directive 90/220 on the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms in the environment.
§ Mr. David HeathTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what controls are in place to prevent varieties of GM crops not approved for sale for planting in the EU being imported into the UK as animal feed. [113763]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 13 March 2000]: Under Council Directive 90–220, on the Deliberate Release of Genetically Modified Organisms into the Environment, no viable GM material can either be grown or imported into the EU without a marketing consent.
§ Mr. David HeathTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research he has commissioned into the implications for safety or welfare of animals of being fed on GM crops. [113768]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 13 March 2000]: Research to date has concentrated on the effects of processing on animal feed materials and the ability of DNA to survive processing and passage through an animal's gut. No incidental ill-effects have been detected in animals, nor have any been reported in countries where GM crops have been grown and fed to animals for a number of years.
§ Mr. David HeathTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made on the proposed European Novel Feeds Regulation to ensure the labelling of GM animal feed. [113766]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 13 March 2000]: We have been pressing the Commission for some time to bring forward its proposed Novel Feeds Regulation which will contain labelling rules. Commissioner Byrne has given an undertaking to do this as soon as possible, and we expect a formal proposal to be submitted to Council later this year.
§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a decision will be taken on placing Avantis GM maize seeds on the national seed list. [114352]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 13 March 2000]: Ministers are presently considering whether or not to propose a GM forage maize variety (CHARDON LL) for addition to the National List. When this decision is taken it will be published in the Plant Varieties and Seeds Gazette, and persons affected by the proposed decision may then make representations and/or be heard by a person appointed by Ministers for that purpose.