§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions have been held by officials of the Food Standards Agency with, and what representations have been received by the Agency from,(a) the Food and Drink Federation, (b) the European Federation of European Food Additives and Food Enzymes Industries, (c) the Confederation of Food and Drink Industries of the European Union, (d) individual companies involved in the fermentation sector and (e) other stakeholders about the interpretation of the new traceability and labelling regulations in relation to products produced with genetically modified micro-organisms; [169958]
(2) what the policy objectives of the Food Standards Agency are for the forthcoming discussions with the European Commission and other member states about the interpretation of the new traceability and labelling regulations in relation to products produced with genetically modified micro-organisms; and what communication the Agency (a) has had and (b) intends to have with other member states to secure those objectives; [169959]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe Food Standards Agency (FSA), in conjunction with the Department for Environment, Rural Affairs and Food, has held stakeholder meetings with a number of interested parties, including industry bodies and associations, to discuss the implications and scope of both the Genetically Modified Food and Feed Regulation (EC) 1829/2003 and the Traceability and Labelling Regulation (EC) 1830/2003.
The food and feed industry has raised specific concerns in relation to the labelling of products arising from a fermentation process using either genetically modified micro-organisms and/or genetically modified substrates. This issue has been raised throughout Member States and the Commission has undertaken to take forward a discussion at Standing Committee where the FSA will seek clarification on the status of these products.