HC Deb 27 October 2003 vol 412 cc29-30WS
Paddy Tipping

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements she intends to put in place to ensure co-existence between genetically modified crops and those produced by conventional or organic production methods. [133179]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 22 October 2003]We will consider possible co-existence arrangements for GM and non-GM crops when we have a report on this issue from the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission. Our current expectation is that this will be published next month. At this stage no GM crop has all the necessary approvals for commercial cultivation in the UK. The Government has not reached a final view on whether any specific GM crops should be approved for cultivation.

Mr. Swire

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with her European counterparts on the introduction of genetically modified crops in EU member states. [132651]

Mr. Morley

Ministers from the Department have regular discussions with their EU counterparts on issues relating to genetically modified (GM) crops. The issue has, in particular, featured on the agenda for several meetings of Councils of Agriculture and of Environment Ministers in recent years. Most recently, at a meeting of the Agriculture Council on 29 September there was a discussion on the European Commission's guidelines on the co-existence of GM and non-GM crops. Final EU decisions on pending applications for consent to grow GM crops are not expected until next year.

Mr. Swire

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what role the Government has taken in the development of EU policy on genetically modified crops. [132652]

Mr. Morley

Since the late 1980s, the UK has played a full and active role in the development of EU policy on genetically modified organisms (GMOs), including GM crops. This has resulted in a strong, transparent and accountable regulatory framework, including the adoption in 2001 of an enhanced generic Directive (2001/18/EC) on the safety assessment of GMOs and in 2003 of specific measures on the traceability and labelling of GMOs, on genetically modified food and feed, and on exports of GMOs from the Community. Throughout, we have argued for an approach which is precautionary, evidence-based and proportionate, and which takes due account of international obligations under agreements such as the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The Government has also paid particular attention to the practical aspects of implementation, with the UK, for example, being one of only four member states so far to have completed implementation of Directive 2001/18/EC.

Mr. Bellingham

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Department is taking to protect the interests of businesses from contamination by GM crops, with particular reference to organic farmers. [133408]

Mr. Morley

We will consider possible co-existence arrangements for GM and non-GM crops when we have a report on this issue from the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission. Our current expectation is that this will be published next month. At this stage no GM crop has all the necessary approvals for commercial cultivation in the UK. The Government has not reached a final view on whether any specific GM crops should be approved for cultivation.

Dr. Gibson

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the field scale evaluation GM crop trials in the management of individual crops. [133495]

Mr. Morley

The results of the spring-sown GM crop farm-scale evaluations were published on 16 October 2003. The results have now been passed to the Government's statutory advisory body—the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE)—who will advise on their implications. In the light of ACRE'S advice Ministers will decide the UK's position on whether these specific crops should be approved for commercial cultivation in the EU.

There are currently no GM crops being grown in the UK and none have all the approvals required for commercial cultivation. No GM crops can be sown without further regulatory approval which cannot take place until next spring at the earliest. We expect to receive ACRE'S advice in December or early January.