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EU Subsidies
Dr. Marek: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what his policy is with regard to the capping of subsidies for cereals and root crops within the EU. [75014]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 9 March 1999]: We are opposed to the capping of subsidies at EU level, as proposed by the European Commission, which would discriminate against UK farmers because of our different farm structure.
10 Mar 1999 : Column: 304
Mr. Drew:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what legal advice he has sought to ascertain whether he can introduce an import ban on food that does not meet current standards in terms of genetically modified organism regulations. [75197]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 9 March 1999]: No genetically modified food (GM) may be sold in the UK unless it has been rigorously assessed for safety and is clearly labelled in accordance with the EC Novel Foods and Ingredient Regulation (258/97) or, in the case of soya and maize, EC Regulation 1139/98.
Mr. Drew:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he plans to take to prevent the importation of food that has not been correctly segregated and labelled under genetically modified organism regulations. [75196]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 9 March 1999]: All genetically modified (GM) foods sold in the European Union must be approved for safety and labelled in accordance with EC Novel Foods and Food Ingredients Regulation (258/97), or in the case of GM soya and maize, EC Regulation 1139/98. Responsibility for the enforcement of these regulations lies with local authorities.
Mr. Gray:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the segregation of genetically modified food. [74692]
Mr. Rooker:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 27 January 1999, Official Report, column 302.
Mr. Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what independent research he has commissioned on the possibility of genetically modified food crops affecting other crops being grown; and if he will make a statement. [75072]
Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 8 March 1999]: The Ministry has since 1991 funded a programme of research to assess the risks to agriculture from the release of genetically modified (GM) crops. To date, over £4.1 million has been spent on the programme and the results so far provide no evidence for possible risks to agricultural crops from the release of GM crops.
Mr. Wood:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which organisations were contacted during the consultation process on changes to the quarantine regulations. [73470]
Mr. Rooker:
The list of recipients of the consultation letter issued by my Department on 23 September 1998 has been place in the Library of the House. Separate consultations were held by the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales.