§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her discussions with the chief executive officers of ASDA, Tesco, Sainsbury and Safeway on 16 July regarding GM foods; and what plans she has to meet the chief executive officers of Marks and Spencer and Waitrose on this issue. [128868]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 11 September 2003]My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met with the CEOs of ASDA, Tesco, Sainsbury and Safeway, the four largest supermarket chains, in a listening capacity, in particular to hear their views as part of the public dialogue on GM issues. During the course of discussion, she emphasised the Government's support for proportional and workable measures for the mandatory traceability and labelling of GM foods and crops.
The interests of other retailers, including those of Marks and Spencer and Waitrose, were represented at the meeting by the Director General of the British Retail Consortium.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has had with the European Commission to ensure that GM foods are labelled and traceable. [130096]
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§ Mr. MorleyThe Department, working closely with the Food Standards Agency, has had regular discussions with the Commission and other EU partners on this issue, both at official and ministerial level. Most recently these discussions have taken place in the context of negotiating the new EC Regulation on the traceability and labelling of GM products that was agreed in July 2003,