Vol. 521 No. 6
62 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if, in light of the discovery of unapproved genetically modified contaminated rape seed, work is being carried out by his Department to establish a monitoring and control system to ensure that contaminated seed is not imported in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17791/00]
My Department is working closely with the Environmental Protection Agency on the establishment of an appropriate monitoring and control system to ensure that contaminated seed is not imported in the future. The aim of the monitoring and control system will be to identify and prevent the marketing of conventional seed which has been contaminated by genetically modified material. When this review is completed any changes will be put in place as quickly as possible.
At EU level my Department is currently examining proposals from the EU Commission for a package of measures including the identification of the origin of seed imports, sampling and testing procedures, obligation on importers to ensure imports are free from contamination and procedures for dealing with contaminated crops.
