§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what position the Government took at the recent climate change meeting in Italy in respect of GM trees. [145135]
§ Mr. MorleyThe UK's position at the recent negotiations on the use of sinks (afforestation and reforestation projects) in the Clean Development Mechanism at the Conference of the Parties negotiations held in Milan was that any proposal to use GMO trees should be consistent with the objective and provisions of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, under the Convention on Biological Diversity. This includes a risk assessment and an advanced informed agreement procedure for GMOs intended for intentional introduction into the environment (such as seeds for planting). This was the position agreed by consensus.