Vol. 505 No. 5
10 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the research, if any, his Department has undertaken or commissioned on the implications for public health of the wider consumption of genetically modified foodstuffs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13971/99]
I am very much aware of public concern about genetically modified foodstuffs. I assure the Deputy that I am keeping this issue under continuing review and am determined to ensure that public health and the rights of the consumer are fully protected.
The regulation governing placing on the market a genetically modified food provides adequate protection to consumers. Regulation 258/97, concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients, provides for a pre-market approval system for novel foods, including genetically modified foods, throughout the European Union. A product consisting of or containing a genetically modified organism cannot be authorised for marketing in the European Union without first having undergone an appropriate safety assessment.
A sub-committee of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland advises my Department on an ongoing basis on issues in the area of genetically modified foods and acts as a forum for the exchange of expert scientific opinion and advice on this new technology and its application to food. This committee keeps developments in GMOs under regular review and it acts as the assessment body for applications made under Regulation 258/97. Applications are assessed on a case by case basis and take into account the implications for public health of the consumption of such food. This sub-committee has recently published a report entitled "Food Safety and Genetically Modified Foods" and, in its opinion, the genetically modified food ingredients currently on the market in Ireland are as safe as their traditional counterparts.
As the Deputy will be aware, last August, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government published a consultation paper on genetically modified organisms and the environment. I understand the Minister is currently in the final stages of consultation on this paper. In addition to this, an inter-departmental working group on GMOs, chaired by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, has been established with a view to reporting with a co-ordinated overall Government position as soon as possible. The group is comprised of senior officials from my Department, the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Agriculture and Food, the Environment and Local Government and a representative of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. I await the outcome of both initiatives with interest.
Will the Minister accept we do not know what the outcome may be from eating genetically modified foods? Looking at the unfortunate Dolly, the sheep, unforeseen things can happen. Nobody is in a position to guarantee there are no dangers in relation to food safety. Will the Minister accept that major concerns have been expressed by the British Medical Association, a body to which I always pay heed? Will he agree sufficient concern has been expressed because already we have on our shelves genetically modified foods which people are not aware they are buying? Will he state clearly that it is important to have our own research facilities?
The National Food Safety Authority of Ireland has highly competent and scientific people on it. It has scientific committees and specialist scientific committees which look at various areas of concern as they see it. The National Food Safety Authority is working well. I thank Dr. Wall for the work he does and bringing into the public domain many of these issues in an understandable and consumer friendly way. Too often we see the transcription of reports from scientific journals to daily newspapers in a way which does not give credit to the scientific issues involved. This issue is being studied in detail by various Departments, an interdepartmental group and by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government in respect of GMOs and the environment. Given that the consultative process is coming to completion we can get some informed and balanced opinion as to the present position. The National Food Safety Authority has indicated in its report that those products on the market are as safe as their traditional counterparts.
Notwithstanding the good work being done by the National Food Safety Authority – I share the Minister's praise of the authority – surely he accepts that much of the information on which the authority is basing its information is coming from multinational companies which have a vested interest because they are engaged in producing GM foods? That is a fact and we all know it. Will the Minister accept that extreme caution is needed in relation to these developments and that people should be clearly advised and informed what they are buying and eating?
I do not go along with the backhanded compliment the Deputy has given the National Food Safety Authority. The National Food Safety Authority is not beholden to any multinational interest—
I never said that.
—nor does it rely exclusively, in its report, on multinational company views of genetically modified organisms. It is an independent, science-based body with the necessary resources to give us informed opinion. We decided to set it up when we came into office. It is a totally different situation from heretofore. Thankfully we introduced the changes to make it happen.
May I ask a brief question?
No. I cannot allow a brief question. The Chair has no discretion in this matter.
