Bernard Allen
Question:192 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the situation regarding the use of GMOs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17559/02]
Written Answers. - Genetically Modified Organisms.
As regards modern biotechnology and the environment, my Department's position is fully set out in the policy statement on genetically modified organisms and the environment issued in October 1999 following an extensive public consultation.
The contained use of genetically modified organisms is regulated under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations, 2001, and the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms to the environment is regulated under the Genetically Modified Organisms Regulations, 1994. The purpose of both regulations is environmental protection, including human health considerations arising in that context.
The EPA is the competent authority for the 1994 and 2001 regulations and the Minister for the Environment and Local Government has no function in relation to individual notifications for the contained use of genetically modified organisms, or the release of such organisms into the environment for research and development purposes. Competent authority functions in EU environmental legislation on the marketing of genetically modified organisms are also a matter for the agency under the 1994 regulations. Where issues in relation to marketing notifications cannot be resolved at competent authority level, initiation of the relevant Community-level procedures, in accordance with EU legislation, is a matter for the European Commission. New regulations, replacing the 1994 regulations and transposing EU Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms, will contain similar procedural arrangements
A wide range of biotechnology related issues and developments at national and international level were also addressed in the report of the interdepartmental group on modern biotechnology chaired by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and issued in October 2000.