| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Genetically Modified Foods
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the answer of 2 February 1999, Official Report, column 604, to the Member for North Cornwall (Mr. Tyler), what was the date of the first assessment by his Department of the impact of genetically modified feed material on human health; if he will list the studies commissioned in this area with the dates of those studies; and if he will make a statement. [73400]
Mr. Rooker [holding answer 1 March 1999]: The implications for human health from the use of animal feed materials derived from a genetically modified crop were first considered in 1994.
Work was commissioned in 1996 with the Laboratory of the Government Chemist to determine the effects of processing on maize by-products, in connection with the application for a marketing consent for pest resistant maize. A further MAFF-funded study at Leeds University has looked at the various parameters used to process animal feeds and their effect on DNA; this was completed in 1998.
More recently, follow-up work has been commissioned with ADAS, to investigate the effects of processing on DNA in certain feeds under controlled commercial conditions.
There has been other relevant work which has considered the potential for gene transfer from GM organisms to gut bacteria.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the agricultural implications of the introduction of genetically modified crops into United Kingdom agriculture. [73401]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 1 March 1999]: The Government believe that there are potential benefits to UK agriculture from the introduction of genetically modified crops. At the same time we recognise that there are widespread concerns about potential risks which they may pose to the agricultural environment. In response to these two considerations, we have set in hand a programme of research into the potential risks, and are proceeding with caution at the farm level by arranging a limited number of field-scale trials this year with full ecological monitoring.
2 Mar 1999 : Column: 720
Ms Walley:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library responses to his Department's consultation document on genetically modified herbicide-resistant crops in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [72227]
Mr. Rooker:
The comments on this discussion paper (issued on 10 July 1997) can be found in the Libraries of the House, and are available for viewing by the public on request in my Department's library at Whitehall Place.
The responses received were taken fully into account when formulating the statement I made to the House of Lords Select Committee on European Legislation on 21 October 1998.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the reports from outside bodies on genetically modified food received by his Department in September 1998. [73502]
Mr. Rooker:
The Government welcome all reports by outside bodies that make a constructive contribution to the debate about genetically modified (GM) food and biotechnology. In this context, the Government particularly welcomed the Royal Society report on GM foods and crops published in September 1998.
Sir Teddy Taylor:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the Catering Committee about genetically modified foods in the House; and if he will make a statement. [72999]
Mr. Rooker:
I have had no such discussions with the House Catering Committee on this matter.
I would, however, refer the hon. Member to the statement issued by Sue Harrison, the Director of Catering Services and Head of the Refreshment Department for the House of Commons, on 17 February 1999, in which she makes it clear that although the use of foods containing genetically modified (GM) organisms is avoided wherever possible, there is no outright ban on the use of such foods in the House of Commons dining rooms and cafeterias.
The Government continue to be committed to ensuring that all GM foods are clearly labelled to enable all consumers, including hon. Members, to be able to make an informed choice about whether or not to eat such foods.
Sir Teddy Taylor:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what powers Her Majesty's Government have to impose a moratorium on the production and sale of genetically modified foods (a) with and (b) without EU permission. [72998]
Mr. Rooker:
Under Article 12 of the EC Novel Foods Regulation (258/97), a member state may act to either temporarily restrict or suspend the trade in, and the use of, an approved novel food or food ingredient in its territory if as a result of new information, or a reassessment of existing information, it has detailed grounds for believing that its use endangers human health or the environment. In such cases, it is required to immediately inform the European Commission of its decision. The European Commission then has three months from the date of referral to resolve the matter or adopt the member state's proposed measure.
2 Mar 1999 : Column: 721
Sir Teddy Taylor:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to require all genetically modified foods to be clearly labelled when offered for sale to the general public. [72997]
Mr. Rooker:
It is already a requirement under EC law (EC Regulations 258/97 and 1139/98) that foods are labelled to inform consumers when their content has been genetically modified. GB legislation to enforce Regulation 1139/98, which requires all foods containing genetically modified soya and maize to be clearly labelled, will be brought into force as quickly as parliamentary procedures allow.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the review of quarantine rules in the cases of blind people who need their guide dogs to accompany them on visits abroad. [72822]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 1 March 1999]: The Government are considering the outcome of the consultation on the review of quarantine rules undertaken by the Advisory Group on Quarantine. We will announce a specific way forward as soon as we can.
Sir George Young:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to amend the secondary legislation on quarantine to make it compatible with European Community law. [72907]
Mr. Rooker:
The Government are considering the outcome of the consultation on the report of the Advisory Group on Quarantine, which recommended changes to the quarantine system. Implementing such changes would require legislative amendment.
Sir George Young:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what contingency plans he has drawn up in case his defence in respect of the Quarantine Abolition Fighting Fund application for judicial review should fail. [73000]
Mr. Rooker:
Any action that the Department took following the judicial review would depend on the terms of the judgment, whatever that might be.
Mr. Malins:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will authorise the release from quarantine of clinically healthy dogs and cats which show valid serological evidence of immunity to rabies; and if he will make a statement. [72942]
Mr. Rooker:
No. The Government are considering the outcome of the consultation on the review of quarantine rules undertaken by the Advisory Group on Quarantine. The Advisory Group recommended that changes to the present system should not be introduced until an alternative administrative and operational infrastructure is in place.
Mr. Charles Kennedy:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on reports that files on BSE controls between 1990 and 1995 are missing from his Department. [72292]
2 Mar 1999 : Column: 722
Mr. Nick Brown:
All the material facts about Departmental papers have been passed to the BSE Inquiry. It would not be appropriate or fair for me to make any comment while that Inquiry is still in progress.
Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has received from the Government's Chief Scientist about banning beef on the bone. [72611]
Mr. Nick Brown:
None. This is primarily a matter for the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Liam Donaldson, who advised me and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health after he had considered the most recent scientific assessment by the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee.
Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest possible date for responses to the consultation exercise, Towards a New Direction for UK Agriculture. [66906]
Mr. Nick Brown:
There is no specific close down date. Responses will be taken into account in decisions on the national implementation of CAP reforms over the foreseeable future. Those received while negotiations are still continuing will be fed into the final stages of that process.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |