Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Apr 1997

Vol. 477 No. 5

Written Answers. - Genetically Modified Substances.

Ivor Callely

Question:

106 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health his views on genetic engineering, particularly in foodstuffs; the consideration, if any, his Department has given this matter; the implications from a health perspective in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9665/97]

Willie O'Dea

Question:

110 Mr. O'Dea asked the Minister for Health whether the Food Safety Advisory Board has reviewed genetically engineered soya and maize to assess whether or not they should be considered as novel foods; and, if so, the basis on which the board decided that these should not be considered as novel foods and labelled as such. [9696/97]

Willie O'Dea

Question:

111 Mr. O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a substance (details supplied), when prepared using a new genetically modified ingredient, produces a hitherto unknown toxin which resulted in EMS Syndrome which caused the death of 37 consumers and permanent disability for a further 1,500 users; and his views on whether genetically engineered foods, including their derivatives, should be tested before being released for consumption in Ireland in view of unexpected results such as this. [9698/97]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan

, Limerick East): In February 1997, the European Parliament and Council adopted Regulation (EC) No. 258/97 on novel foods and novel food ingredients and my Department is the competent authority in Ireland for its implementation. Foods and food ingredients which have not hitherto been used for human consumption to a significant degree within the European Union and which contain or are produced from a genetically modified organism fall within the scope of the regulation which comes into effect in all member states in mid-May of this year. The regulation provides that novel foods and novel food ingredients must undergo a safety assessment and be officially approved-authorised before being placed on the European market. Thus the regulation, which is an internal market measure, ensures that common rules and procedures in relation to novel foods and ingredients will apply across all member states of the European Union. It also contains provisions for the labelling of novel foods and food ingredients. The controls available under Regulation 258/97 will provide protection for both consumers and food producers and I will be keeping the matter under continuing review.

My attention has been drawn to the incident involving the substance to which the Deputy refers and my Department was aware of the incident in 1989 when it occurred. A food ingredient produced by genetic modification which has not hitherto been used for human consumption to a significant degree within the European Union would fall within the scope of Regulation 258/97 and would have to be assessed before it could be placed on the market anywhere in the European Union, including Ireland.

Regulation 258/97 differs in its scope to Directive 90/220 which concerns the release of genetically modified organisms into the environment. This directive has already been transposed into Irish law by my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, and the Environmental Protection Agency, is the competent authority in Ireland for its implementation. The Food Safety Advisory Board, FSAB, set up a working group of technical experts to consider the food aspects of notification received by the Environmental Protection Agency under EU Directive 90/220. It is not the role of the FSAB to decide whether a substance is a novel food; the scope of Regulation 258/97 on novel foods is set down by the European Parliament and Council, the FSAB provides advice on the technical aspects with regard to the food element of dossiers submitted under the terms of Directive 90/220 to the Environmental Protection Agency. It is a matter for that agency to decide on the outcome of notifications which it receives. To date the working group of the FSAB has not considered any notifications concerning soya and has reviewed three notifications for various types of genetically modified maize. These notifications were addressed in the first instance at the competent authorities of other member states in whose territories it is intended to make the release of the genetically modified organism. In accordance with the provisions of the directive, each member state is informed of notifications received in another member state and there is a stated period of time in which observations on a notification can be provided to the evaluating competent authority.

As I indicated earlier, Regulation 258/97 comes into force in mid-May this year and I am at present making arrangements for its implementation. I am considering the role to be played by the FSAB working group in the assessment of products falling within the scope of this regulation and I wish to assure the Deputies that public health concerns will be paramount in the assessment procedure which I will put in place.