§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the need for(a) primary and (b) secondary legislation to implement any EU directive regarding the commercialisation of GM crops. [113771]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 19 May 2003]: Primary and secondary legislation fully implementing the UK's European Community obligations on GM products, including crops, is already in place.
The commercial use of GM crops is subject to Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms. Directive 2001/18 entered fully into force on 17 October 2002, replacing and improving upon the framework established by its predecessor, Directive 90/220/EEC.
In England, Scotland and Wales, the main primary legislation implementing Directive 2001/18 is Part VI of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. In Northern Ireland, the Genetically Modified Organisms (Northern 690W Ireland) Order 1991 provides similar powers. The relevant secondary legislation transposing the Directive is:
in England, the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 2002 (SI 2002 no.2443)in Scotland, The Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) (Scotland) Regulations 2002 (SSI 2002 no.541)in Wales, The Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) (Wales) Regulations 2002 (WSI 2002 no.3188)in Northern Ireland, the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 (no.167)
§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what methods and measurements will be used to evaluate the outcome of the GM public debate. [114029]
§ Mr. MeacherThe independent Steering Board, set up to manage the GM public debate at arms' length from Government, is responsible for the methods and measurements used to evaluate the outcome of the debate. The Steering Board will be submitting its report on the outcome of the debate to Government in September.