§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to amend the Seed (National List of Varieties) Regulations 2001; and if she will make a statement. [58738]
§ Margaret BeckettChanges to the Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 2001 will be needed in the near future to amend references to EC seeds marketing directives which are currently being codified by the Council of the European Union, and other minor matters.
In addition, the Government said on 28 November 2000, in reply to a Parliamentary Question about changes to the arrangements for requesting a hearing on proposed National List decisions, that it would wish to consider, in the light of the proposed addition of a genetically modified plant variety, Chardon LL, to the National List, whether the current arrangements are satisfactory for all parties. The Chardon LL Hearing will finish around mid June this year and it remains the Government's intention 942W to review how those arrangements have worked. If changes are proposed, all interested parties will be consulted.