§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what account she 79W has taken of the views of the Royal Society in determining her policy in respect of the rearing of genetically modified fish. [8000]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 15 October 2001]: In their report on "The Use of Genetically Modified Animals", published on 21 May 2001, the Royal Society endorsed the recommendation of the Royal Society of Canada for a moratorium on the rearing of GM fish in aquatic net-pens, with approval for commercial production being conditional on the rearing of the fish in land-locked facilities.
The views of the Royal Society accord with current Government policy.
The keeping and rearing of GM fish is already tightly controlled. They must be kept in secure containment in land based tanks with suitable precautions to preclude escape. The keeping of GM fish in nets, tanks or cages in the sea or in rivers, lakes or streams would constitute a release to the environment and is prohibited under EU legislation without prior consent from the relevant authority. Any application to keep GM fish in such circumstances would have to be underpinned by a detailed risk assessment and would be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants would be required to demonstrate that there would be no adverse effects on human health or the environment arising from the activity. Given these requirements it is difficult to envisage any circumstances in which we would permit such a release.
There are no GM fish held in aquatic net-pens in this country and no approval has yet been sought or granted for commercial production of GM fish.