§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the United Kingdom will ratify the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. [4472]
§ Mr. MeacherRatification of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety by the United Kingdom is partly dependent on legislative action at the European Community level. The European Commission has indicated that it intends to publish proposals for such legislation in autumn this year. Depending on progress with this legislation, the United Kingdom may therefore expect to ratify the Protocol before the end of 2002.