Denis Naughten
Question:151 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will introduce an information campaign on all genetically engineered foods. [15537/97]
Written Answers. - Genetically Modified Food.
Michael Ring
Question:162 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself with the level of consumer information and protection in relation to genetically engineered food. [15449/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 and 162 together.
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 Community and which contain or are produced from a genetically modified organism fall, inter alia, within the scope of the regulation, which came into effect in all member states in mid-May of this year. The regulation provides that novel foods and novel foods 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. These controls provide protection to consumers and I will be keeping the matter under continuing review to ensure that the consumer is adequately protected.
The regulation also contains provisions for the labelling of novel foods and food ingredients and in response to any concerns about consumer information I would like to refer the Deputies to Article 8 of the regulation. Essentially, this states that there must be specific labelling to inform the consumer of any characteristic or food property (e.g. composition, nutritional value, nutritional effects, intended use of the food) which renders a novel food or novel food ingredient no longer equivalent to an existing food or food ingredient. These labelling requirements for novel foods are in addition to the general food labelling provisions which are the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Enterprise Trade, and Employment.
To ensure a coherent approach, the European Commission is at present considering the labelling and consumer information aspects of the various pieces of EU legislation on the use of genetically modified organisms. I wish to assure the House that in any discussions with member states I will press for genetically modified foods to be so labelled to ensure the highest degree of consumer information. The question of a formal information campaign on this subject is something which I will consider in the context of EU developments.