At Westminster:

Written answers

Genetically modified organisms: food

November 30th, 2009

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which animal studies of the effects of links between genetically modified foods and changes in the kidney, pancreas and spleen his Department has considered in the last two years. [301227]

Gillian Merron: The Food Standards Agency has sought advice from the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) regarding what conclusions may be drawn from the following publications:
Malatesta et al., (2008), Histochem Cell Biol, 130, pp967-977
Kilic and Akay, (2008), Food and Chemical Toxicology, 46, pp1164-1170

30 Nov 2009 : Column 535W

The ACNFP considered this publication at its meeting in February 2009. It advised that it was not possible to draw any conclusions about cause and effect or to assess the significance of this report for human health. The minutes of this meeting are available on the ACNFP website at:
http://www.acnfp.gov.uk/meetings/acnfpmeet09/acnfpfeb09/acnfpmin190209

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which studies of intestinal damage in animals that have been fed genetically modified foods his Department has considered in the last two years; and whether he has made an assessment of the implications for (a) proliferative cell growth and (b) intestinal immune systems in humans of the findings of those studies. [301229]

Gillian Merron: The Food Standards Agency has sought advice from the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) regarding what conclusions may be drawn from the following publication:
Finamore et al., (2008), J Agric Food Chem. DOI: 10.1021/jf802059w
The ACNFP considered this publication at its meeting in February 2009. It advised that it was not possible to draw any conclusions about cause and effect or to assess the significance of this report for human health. The minutes of this meeting are available on the ACNFP website at:
http://www.acnfp.gov.uk/meetings/acnfpmeet09/acnfpfeb09/acnfpmin190209

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which published scientific papers his Department has taken into account in the formulation of its policy on human consumption of genetically modified foods. [301230]

Gillian Merron: An extensive review of the science relating to genetically modified crops and food was undertaken in 2003 by the GM Science Review Panel. The panel's reports were published in June 2003 and January 2004 and these include extensive bibliographies listing the published papers and reports that were taken into account. These reports can be found at the GM Science Review website at:
http://www.gmsciencedebate.org.uk/

------------------

Genetically modified organisms: research

December 1st, 2009

Mr. Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to assess the environmental impact of genetically modified crops in England; if he will list the research projects commissioned or completed since the conclusion of the Government-funded farm scale evaluations, that are designed to repeat or built on the research on the environmental impacts of those trials; and what scientific conclusions were reached. [303372]

1 Dec 2009 : Column 574W

Dan Norris: In line with European Union legislation, the proposed release of genetically modified crops is subject to a robust case-by-case assessment of the potential impact on human health and the environment. DEFRA Ministers receive expert scientific advice on this from the independent Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment.

DEFRA has commissioned two projects since the conclusion of the Farm Scale Evaluation trials which follow up or build on that research, as follows:



Full details of these projects, including the final reports, are available on the DEFRA website.

Mr. Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will assess the implications for his Department's policies on genetically modified foods of the editorial in the Scientific American in July 2009 which asserts that it is impossible to verify that genetically modified crops perform as advertised because agritech companies have given themselves veto power over the work of independent researchers. [303373]

Dan Norris: We support open scientific inquiry in this area, and anticipate that companies would make their genetically modified seeds available for legitimate research, as they did in the UK for the major Farm Scale Evaluations project.

------------------
In Belfast:

Written answers to questions

GM crops

20 November 2009

Mr B Wilson asked the Minister of the Environment in the light of the decision of the Irish government to ban the growing of GM crops, if he would introduce similar measures to make the island of Ireland GM free.

(AQW 2525/10)

Minister of the Environment: I have no plans to ban the growing of GM crops in Northern Ireland.

Sources:

1. Written answers – Genetically modified organisms: food. House of Commons (30.11.09) (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm091130/text/91130w0037.htm)

2. Written answers – Genetically modified organisms: research. House of Commons (1.12.09) (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm091201/text/91201w0002.htm#column_573W)

3.. Written answers to questions – GM crops. Northern Ireland Assembly (20.11.09) (http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/qanda/2007mandate/writtenans/2009/091120.htm)

<<<back