§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what position the UK took at the recent meeting of parties to the Biosafety Protocol in Kuala Lumpur in relation to the creation of an international liability regime. [159796]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 8 March 2004]:In line with the EU's common position (as set out in December's Environment Council Conclusions), the UK supported the adoption of a process with respect to the appropriate elaboration of international rules and procedures in the field of liability and redress for damage resulting from transboundary movements of genetically modified organisms (GM0s), and making a final report to the meeting of the Parties within four years (by 2008).
1543WThe EU/UK position was that the most appropriate mechanism for this process should be a group of technical and legal experts.