John Gormley
Question:202 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children whether a revaluation of policy has occurred, or is occurring, in relation to the use and propagation of genetically modified organisms. [10674/98]
Vol. 490 No. 5
202 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children whether a revaluation of policy has occurred, or is occurring, in relation to the use and propagation of genetically modified organisms. [10674/98]
Responsibility for different aspects of policy on genetically modified organisms spans several Government Departments.
My Department is responsible for Regulation (EC) 258/97, which 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. The regulation 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.