GENETICALLY MODIFIED OILSEED RAPE (11640/06)
Letter from Ian Pearson MP, Minister of
State for Climate Change & Environment, Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs
I am writing to inform you that a vote was taken
on the above proposal to approve the placing on the market of
a GM oilseed rape product (Ms8, Rf3 and Ms8 x Rf3) at the Agriculture
and Fisheries Council on 18 September.
The proposal is part of the routine process
for dealing with applications to place GM products on the market.
As agreed in July last year an Explanatory Memorandum was submitted
on 11 January 2006 following discussion at the official level
2001/18 Regulatory Committee (previously we have waited until
the issuing of the final proposal for the consideration of Council
before providing you with an Explanatory Memorandum). In addition
to this EM an evidence session was held by Sub Committee D on
19 April 2006 although your Committee still has not yet cleared
this dossier. The UK were asked to take a position on the dossier
at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 18 September. The
UK voted in favour of the proposal as agreed by Cabinet Committee
correspondence. No qualified majority was reached though and the
proposal will now return to the Commission for a Decision in line
with the scientific advice from EFSA. In the circumstances, it
is clearly unfortunate that scrutiny procedures could not be completed
but I wish to inform the Committee that the Government has decided
to proceed.
4 October 2006
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