§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria are to be used in the risk assessments for the autumn-sown farm scale evaluations for GM crops. [4471]
§ Mr. MeacherThe criteria used in assessing risks from genetically modified (GM) plants released to the environment are set out in schedule 1 of the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations (1995), which implement European Commission Directive 94/15/EC.
For the assessment of sites notified to the authorities for research releases the criteria (set out in Part V of the schedule) include: locations and sizes of the sites, the description of the site ecosystem including evaluation of 629W flora and fauna, details of any sexually compatible wild relatives or cultivated plant species present at the site and its proximity to sites of special scientific interest.
§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farm scale evaluation sites for GM crops were planted for each crop type. [4469]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Farm Scale Evaluations is a three-year research programme now in its second full year. The Scientific Steering Committee overseeing the programme has recommended that data be gathered at between 60 and 75 sites for each crop type (winter oilseed rape, spring oilseed rape, beet and maize) over the three years of the study. To date 24 winter oilseed rape, 43 spring oilseed rape, 50 beet sites and 37 maize sites have been sown.
§ Mr. BreedTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the meetings she has had with(a) Aventis and (b) the Crop Protection Association to discuss access to information on experimental approvals for glufosinate ammonium. [3755]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 16 July 2001]: No such meetings have been held.
§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the antibiotic marker genes and the antibiotics to which they convey resistance, that have been used in the genetic modification of plant crops. [4606]
§ Mr. MeacherI refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 22 February 2000,Official Report, column 916W.
§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the tests or trials on the(a) distinctness, uniformity and stability and (b) value for cultivation and use of the GM fodder maize variety, Chardon LL, which have been commenced in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) elsewhere since October 2000. [4465]
§ Mr. MeacherNo tests for distinctness, uniformity and stability or trials for value for cultivation and use on the GM fodder maize variety Chardon LL have been commenced in the United Kingdom since October 2000. The French testing authorities have advised us that they entered the variety for a second year of official distinctness, uniformity and stability tests in France in spring 2001.