§ Mr. WatsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what plans she has to prohibit the sale of genetically modified(a) zebra fish and (b) other species in the UK; [165035]
(2) what assessment her Department has made of the possible future market for genetically modified pets. [165036]
§ Mr. MorleySales of genetically modified fish and other GM animals are already prohibited within the European Union unless specifically authorised under Directive 2001/18 on the Deliberate Release into the Environment of Genetically Modified Organisms or kept in secure containment under the terms of Directive 90/219 (as amended by Directive 98/81/EC) on the contained use of Genetically Modified Micro-Organisms. To date no applications have been received in the EU to release either GM fish or GM pets. The Department has not undertaken any assessment of the future market for genetically modified pets.