Vol. 531 No. 2
37 Ms Clune asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the implications for this country of the recent decisions taken in the European Parliament on genetically modified organisms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5168/01]
Agreement has been reached by the European Council of Ministers and the European Parliament, in accordance with Community co-decision procedures, on a new directive to regulate the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms into the environment.
The new directive will update the existing regulatory regime in Ireland and the Community generally in this area. It reflects advances in science and technology and practical operational experience gained since the directive it will replace – 90/220/EEC – came into effect in 1991. The main feature of the new directive is a strengthening of the safety and transparency provisions of the regulatory regime through a range of specific requirements such as new common principles for environmental risk assessment, a new ten year limit on first time consents, to place genetically modified products on the EU market, linked to a new requirement for post-release monitoring, improved labelling linked to a new requirement on traceability and new provisions for public participation in the regulatory procedures.
When the directive enters into force, member states will have 18 months to transpose it into national law. In the case of Ireland, transposition will require the making of regulations, under the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992, to replace the relevant provisions of the Genetically Modified Organisms Regulations, 1994. The Environmental Protection Agency is the competent authority for the purposes of the 1994 regulations and that position will be maintained under the new directive.
