§ Mr. HepburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on a five-year moratorium on genetically engineered crops. [20356]
§ Mr. MeacherEuropean Union Directive 90/220 lays down strict controls on the release of genetically modified (GM) organisms. It requires proposed releases to be considered on a case-by-case basis, with a detailed assessment of the potential risks to human health and the environment. The Government agree with this approach. At the same time, we have a voluntary agreement with the industry that GM crops will not be grown here commercially at least until the results of the Farm Scale Evaluations have been assessed.