House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 16 Feb 1999 (pt 28)

Foodstuffs

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those cases in which a Member State has sought to invoke Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No. 258/97 (restricting or suspending trade in and use of food or food ingredients) in addition to an examination by the European Commission within the Standing Committee on Foodstuffs under that Article. [69870]

Mr. Nick Brown [holding answer 8 February 1999]: Article 12 has yet to be invoked by any member state.

16 Feb 1999 : Column: 703

Novel Foods

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the requests submitted to him and to other Member States in connection with the placing on the market of genetically modified novel foods or novel food ingredients, pursuant to Article 4(1) of Regulation

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(EC) No. 258/97, by (a) company, (b) product, (c) modified trait, (d) the Member State to which the submission was made and (e) its date. [69877]

Mr. Nick Brown [holding answer 8 February 1999]: Details of applications under the EC Novel Foods Regulation (258/97) are as follows:

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Applications under Regulation (EC) No. 258/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council

Applicant Description of food or ingredient Initial assessment carried out by Application date Initial assessment

1. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Laboratory of Plant Physiology B-3001 Heverlee Stevia rebaudiana (plant and dried leaves) Hoge Gezonheidsraad RAC--Esplanadegebouw 7e verdieping Pachecolaan 19 bus 5 B-1010 Brussels 7 November 1997 6 February 1998; answers to additional questions on 23 January 1998 24 April 1998; Initial assessment report 13 July 1998 Translation into English Forwarded to Member States on 18 August 1998 Additional assessment SCF plenary 9 December 1998

2. Belovo scrl Zone industrielle, 1 B-6600 Bastogne Phospholipids from egg yolk Hoge Gezonheidsraad RAC--Esplanadegebouw 7e verdieping Pachecolaan 19 bus 5 B-1010 Brussels 9 February 1998 9 June 1998 Initial assessment report forwarded to Member States on 29 September 1998 Further information by Belgium on 29 October 1998 at the CPDA Deadline for comments/reasons objections 28 December

3. Zeneca Jealott's Hill Research Station Jealott's Hill, Bracknell, UK, Berkshire RG42 6ET Genetically Modified Processing Tomatoes UK Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes 3 March 1998 2 June 1998 Initial assessment report arrived 8 June 1998. Transmission to Member States: June 1998. Comments and reasoned objections made by Member States forwarded to Member States on 22 October 1998. Additional assessment SCF plenary 9 December 1998.

4. Bejo-Zaden PO Box 50, NL-1749 Warmenhuizen Transgenic Radicchio rosso with male sterility The Provisional Committee for the safety evaluation of novel foods (VcVnv) -- Initial assessment forwarded to Member States on 27 October 1998

5. Bejo-Zaden PO Box 50, NL-1749, Warmenhuizen Transgenic green hearted Chicory with male sterility The Provisional Committee for the safety evaluation of novel foods (VcVnv) 8 April 1998 7 July 1998 Initial assessment forwarded to Member States on 27 October 1998

6. Unilever Research & Engineering Division, Unilever UK, Central Resources Ltd., Unilever House, Blackfriars, UK. London EC4P 4BQ Yellow fat spreads with added phytosterol-esters The Provisional Committee for the safety evaluation of novel foods (VcVnv) 28 May 1998 15 September 1998 Initial assessment forwarded to Member States on 8 January 1999

7. E. I. DuPont Nemours & Co. Agricultural Enterprise Optimum Quality Grains L. L. C. Registration and Regulatory Affairs Europe, Ebertstr. 4, D-07743 Jena High Oleic Soybean Sublines derived from transformation event 260-05 The Provisional Committee for the safety evaluation of novel foods (VcVnv) 25 July 1998 15 November 1998

8. Biomin Pharma GmbH Provinostr. 15, D-86153 Augsburg Vit-Enzym Bundesinstitut fur gesundheitlichen Verbraucherschutz und Veterinärmedizin 23 June 1998 23 September 1998 suspended

9. Monsanto Services International S. A. Ave. de Tervuren 270-272, B-1150 Bruxelles Roundup Ready Maize line GA21 The Provisional Committee for the safety evaluation of novel foods (VcVnv) 24 July 1998 5 November 1998

10. Groupe Danone 7, rue de Teheran, F-75381 Paris, cedex 08 Use as human food of fruit preparations pasteurised using a high pressure treatment process 1) Conseil superieur d'hygiene publique de France 2) Commission de technologie alimentaire 3 December 1998 3 March 1999

11. M Yvan Jobert La Meillade n ⁰ 65, F-34150, Montpeyroux Noix de nangailles Conseil superieur d'hygiene publique de France 9 December 1998 9 March 1999

Applicant	Description of food or ingredient	Initial assessment carried out by	Application date	Initial assessment
1. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Laboratory of Plant Physiology B-3001 Heverlee	Stevia rebaudiana (plant and dried leaves)	Hoge Gezonheidsraad RAC--Esplanadegebouw 7e verdieping Pachecolaan 19 bus 5 B-1010 Brussels	7 November 1997	6 February 1998; answers to additional questions on 23 January 1998 24 April 1998; Initial assessment report 13 July 1998 Translation into English Forwarded to Member States on 18 August 1998 Additional assessment SCF plenary 9 December 1998
2. Belovo scrl Zone industrielle, 1 B-6600 Bastogne	Phospholipids from egg yolk	Hoge Gezonheidsraad RAC--Esplanadegebouw 7e verdieping Pachecolaan 19 bus 5 B-1010 Brussels	9 February 1998	9 June 1998 Initial assessment report forwarded to Member States on 29 September 1998 Further information by Belgium on 29 October 1998 at the CPDA Deadline for comments/reasons objections 28 December
3. Zeneca Jealott's Hill Research Station Jealott's Hill, Bracknell, UK, Berkshire RG42 6ET	Genetically Modified Processing Tomatoes	UK Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes	3 March 1998	2 June 1998 Initial assessment report arrived 8 June 1998. Transmission to Member States: June 1998. Comments and reasoned objections made by Member States forwarded to Member States on 22 October 1998. Additional assessment SCF plenary 9 December 1998.
4. Bejo-Zaden PO Box 50, NL-1749 Warmenhuizen	Transgenic Radicchio rosso with male sterility	The Provisional Committee for the safety evaluation of novel foods (VcVnv)	--	Initial assessment forwarded to Member States on 27 October 1998

5. Bejo-Zaden PO Box 50, NL-1749, Warmenhuizen	Transgenic green hearted Chicory with male sterility	The Provisional Committee for the safety evaluation of novel foods (VcVnv)	8 April 1998	7 July 1998 Initial assessment forwarded to Member States on 27 October 1998

6. Unilever Research & Engineering Division, Unilever UK, Central Resources Ltd., Unilever House, Blackfriars, UK. London EC4P 4BQ	Yellow fat spreads with added phytosterol-esters	The Provisional Committee for the safety evaluation of novel foods (VcVnv)	28 May 1998	15 September 1998 Initial assessment forwarded to Member States on 8 January 1999

7. E. I. DuPont Nemours & Co. Agricultural Enterprise Optimum Quality Grains L. L. C. Registration and Regulatory Affairs Europe, Ebertstr. 4, D-07743 Jena	High Oleic Soybean Sublines derived from transformation event 260-05	The Provisional Committee for the safety evaluation of novel foods (VcVnv)	25 July 1998	15 November 1998

8. Biomin Pharma GmbH Provinostr. 15, D-86153 Augsburg	Vit-Enzym	Bundesinstitut fur gesundheitlichen Verbraucherschutz und Veterinärmedizin	23 June 1998	23 September 1998 suspended

9. Monsanto Services International S. A. Ave. de Tervuren 270-272, B-1150 Bruxelles	Roundup Ready Maize line GA21	The Provisional Committee for the safety evaluation of novel foods (VcVnv)	24 July 1998	5 November 1998
10. Groupe Danone 7, rue de Teheran, F-75381 Paris, cedex 08	Use as human food of fruit preparations pasteurised using a high pressure treatment process	1) Conseil superieur d'hygiene publique de France 2) Commission de technologie alimentaire	3 December 1998	3 March 1999

11. M Yvan Jobert La Meillade n ⁰ 65, F-34150, Montpeyroux	Noix de nangailles	Conseil superieur d'hygiene publique de France	9 December 1998	9 March 1999

16 Feb 1999 : Column: 705

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the names, interests and positions of the members of the Standing Committee on Foodstuffs which has functions under Regulation (EC) No. 258/97 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients. [69868]

Mr. Nick Brown [holding answer 8 February 1999]: The Standing Committee on Foodstuffs is composed of officials from member states. Its composition varies from meeting to meeting.

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which of the initial assessments in connection with the placing on the market of genetically modified novel foods or novel food ingredients, pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No. 258/97, required an additional assessment, pursuant to Article 6.3. [69873]

Mr. Nick Brown [holding answer 8 February 1999]: The application under the Novel Foods Regulation for GM tomato products, for which the UK's Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes provided the initial assessment in June 1998, required an additional assessment. In addition, the application for Stevia rebaudiana, for which the Belgium competent authority (Hoge Gezonheidsraad RAC) provided the initial assessment, required a further assessment, but was ultimately rejected by all member states. All other applications are still under consideration.

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what rules have been adopted for the protection of the information referred to in Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No. 258/97; and if he will place a copy of those rules in the Library. [69885]

Mr. Nick Brown [holding answer 8 February 1999]: The European Commission have yet to act on this matter. The Government will continue to pursue this with the European Commission.

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the measures adopted by the European Commission under Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No. 258/97 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients; and if he will place a copy of those measures in the Library. [69869]

Mr. Nick Brown [holding answer 8 February 1999]: The European Commission has yet to adopt measures under Article 13.

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for each of the additional assessments in connection with the placing on the market of genetically modified novel foods or novel food ingredients, pursuant to Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No. 258/97, the

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authorisation decision, by (i) company, (ii) product, (iii) modified trait, (iv) the relevant member state, (v) date and (vi) the scope of the authorisation. [69872]

Mr. Nick Brown [holding answer 8 February 1999]: An additional assessment will be required for Zeneca GM tomato products which have been modified to delay ripening. The original assessment was carried out by the UK.

BSE

Mr. Ivan Lewis: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he expects the BSE Inquiry to be completed by 30 June. [72143]

Mr. Nick Brown: The Committee of Inquiry has indicated that it needs an extension of time beyond 30 June 1999 in order to enable it to complete its work. Discussions are under way on the additional period that will be required to allow the Inquiry to do this. A further announcement will be made as soon as possible.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

Nurses (Work Permits)

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many applications from hospital trusts for work permits for nurses have been (a) refused and (b) reduced in duration by his Department in each of the last five years. [68581]

Ms Hodge: The specific information requested is not available as work permit records do not identify the type of employer. The numbers of work permit applications for nurses which were refused in each of the last five years are as follows:

Year Number

1994 171

1995 151

1996 182

1997 93

1998 144

Year	Number
1994	171
1995	151
1996	182
1997	93
1998	144

These figures show each application refused, not each person. They therefore include a number of nurses for whom several applications were made, including applications for renewals and transfers to another employer.

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Work permit records show the period approved, not the period requested. It is therefore not possible to give the numbers of permit applications which were approved for a shorter period than requested. The period requested would only be reduced where the business reasons given in the application did not justify the longer period.

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