§ Mr. EdwardsTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make it his policy not to use GM products in food aid programmes until further evaluation has been conducted of the long-term effects of GM products(a) throughout the food chain and (b) for direct consumption by humans. [135066]
§ Hilary BennDFID's approach to GM food and developing countries is based on the principle that both the health of people and the environment are of primary concern. Developing countries are entitled to make their own informed choices about whether or not to adopt GM technologies, and to build the capacity to manage their safe development and use. The following principles are therefore employed in relation to UK food aid contributions
490WRecipient governments should be given adequate information on the type of food they receive and its characteristics, including whether genetically modified;Recipient governments should be allowed to decide on its acceptability; andDonors should accept the decisions of recipients and accommodate them as far as possible. For example, if milled cereals are preferred rather than whole grain to avoid GM grain being planted as seed then this should Ix arranged.While respecting the need and sovereign right of recipient governments to take an informed decision, I believe that issues raised by GM crops do need to continue to be addressed separately.