§ Lord Joplingasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman on 20 March (WA 14), which specific scientific papers justified the Prime Minister's public statement that there is cause for legitimate public concern about genetically modified food: why they prayed in aid the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Conference in Edinburgh (held from 28 February to 1 March) as scientific support for the Prime Minister's statement made on 27 February; and whether the Prime Minister will consider withdrawing or amending his remarks. [HL1740]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)The Prime Minister's article on 27 February did not indicate any change in the Government's policy in regard to genetically modified foods and crops, which is to ensure that health and the environment are adequately safeguarded by means of a strong regulatory regime and to proceed cautiously on the basis of science.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Conference in Edinburgh, which focused on the science of GM food safety, acknowledged that not everything was yet known about the potential effects of using this technology to produce new food products, particularly in the longer term. On environmental safety, the conference concluded that there has so far been insufficient work to be able to assess environmental impacts fully, especially in the biodiversity rich tropics. These conclusions support the cautious approach that we are taking and will continue to take in approving the use of GM crops and foods.