Vol. 495 No. 1
78 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government Ireland's position regarding the EU Commission's proposals to amend EU Directive 90/220/EEC on the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms to the environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19278/98]
At the European Council of Environment Ministers, I have welcomed the Commissions's proposal to update this Directive, in the light of experience to date on the marketing of products containing or consisting of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). In doing so, I have pointed to an increasing level of public awareness and interest in the delibrate release of GMOs to the environment. Against this background, I have emphasised the need for the Community to be firm in its determination not to compromise on the fundamental objective of protecting human health and the environment.
The EU must work towards achieving a balanced, fair and workable amendment which will ensure essential safeguards on the operation of the Community's biotechnology sector. In particular, the amendment proposal is an opportunity to introduce greater transparency into the provisions of the Directive, particularly in relation to the labelling of genetically modified products to be marketed openly within the EU.
