Vol. 488 No. 2
87 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children the measures, if any, he is taking to monitor developments in the field of genetic modification of plants which enter the food chain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23333/97]
Regulation (EC) 258/97 came into effect in all member states of the European Union in mid-May 1997 and the Department of Health and Children is the competent authority for its implementation in Ireland. The regulation applies to the placing on the market of novel foods and novel food ingredients. Food 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 its scope. This would include food and food ingredients which are intended for use as human food, have not been used heretofore, and which are derived from the genetic modification of plants.
Regulation (EC) No. 258/97 provides that novel foods and novel food ingredients, if not substantially equivalent to their non-novel counterparts, must undergo a safety assessment and be officially approved-authorised before being placed on the European market. The regulation also contains provisions for the labelling of novel food and food ingredients. My Department is considering the specific requirements of the implementation of the regulation in Ireland and recently asked the Food Safety Authority of Ireland for its advice on the matter.
My colleague, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, has responsibility for the wider issue of the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms. Authorisations for research and development related to genetic modification, including that of plants, are made under this legislation. I am aware that his Department is preparing a national position paper on the issue of genetic modification. My Department will be happy to contribute to the food related aspects of this exercise and indeed preliminary discussions have already taken place.
