Vol. 564 No. 3
4 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he has evaluated the devastating impact for organic farmers if commercial GM production in the EU is allowed, in view of the fact that GM pollen would spread across the landscape and organic food, and if found to contain GM material, cannot legally be sold as organic; and if measures will be taken to ensure that Irish agriculture is GMO free. [9266/03]
The issue of the co-existence of GM crops with organic and other non-GM crops is currently being discussed at EU level, at the Council of Agriculture Ministers and in other fora. Among the questions which arise are how to manage the adventitious or unintentional mixing of GM and non-GM crops resulting from seed impurities, cross-pollination, harvesting methodologies, storage and-or transport practices, as well as the possible economic consequences to which the Deputy refers.
The EU Commission held a detailed policy discussion on the issue in early March and this will be followed up by a round table meeting of all stake holders on 24 April 2003 at which all of the current scientific knowledge and experience will be assessed and evaluated. The Commission has promised to table guidelines following this meeting.
Teagasc is also currently involved in evaluating all of the scientific data available on this issue including data from France, Australia, Canada and particularly from the five-year study recently carried out in the United Kingdom. This evaluation will be supported by research work in a controlled glass house environment to determine the degree, if any, of cross contamination.
Based on guidelines emanating from the European Union Commission and the outcome of our own national evaluation, a programme of managed development of GM crops will be devised.
Does the Minister accept that the co-existence of genetically modified crops and organic crops is impossible? If organic crops are contaminated in any way with GM organisms they cease to be certifiably organic. This will result in the ruination of organic farmers if GM is allowed to be grown or, as the Minister of State said, to co-exist with organic growing areas. In that regard will he agree it is against his Department's stated policy of promoting organic farming to tolerate genetically modified crops? Will he ensure in the course of international discussions, particularly in relation to the World Trade Organisation, that Ireland would state, as its bottom line, that it will continue as a GMO free country in terms of crop production, animal feed production and animal feed imports for organic growing and organic production? Can he say that will be a bottom line and that he accepts the concerns of the organic bodies that the Government needs to state its position clearly on this matter?
The EU Commission view is that co-existence is about economic and legal questions, not about risks to food safety because only authorised GMOs can be cultivated within the European Union. I cannot conclude what is possible or impossible or de facto at this stage. The scientific reports are being evaluated, data from the various countries are being evaluated within the plant bio-technology unit of Teagasc. We will await the conclusions arrived at. Research is critically important to the well-being of mankind. There is no difficulty pertaining to the Department's policy on organic farming. We have a clearly defined publicly issued policy on organic farming. Recently we have taken decisions that underpin and give sustainability to organic farm ing. I am confident until there is an absolute scientific conclusion, that nobody can make a statement saying co-existence is or is not possible.
People can say it is not possible. If organic farmers are found to use GM feed or if their crops are contaminated by GM they lose their certification. Therefore, it is not possible for the two to co-exist. I certainly agree with the Minister of State on the importance of research. I am surprised, therefore, that the organic poultry unit at Mellows College, in his own constituency, is under threat. Is he referring to the seeds of doubt report by the soil association when he mentions the UK five-year study which states clearly that GM products and organic products cannot co-exist? In relation to imports from Argentina of soya bean coming on the black market, has he got the testing and the traceability in place to ensure that GM products, which may make their way into organic farms, are not imported into Ireland by the back door?
I am satisfied the inspectors in the Department are doing an excellent job in carrying out regular and ad hoc testing of various products to ensure absolute protection and guarantee for consumers, farmers and livestock. Products coming into the country are also tested to ensure an added guarantee. Obviously one can never be certain, in so far as we are dealing with the human management of the transfer of a product from an international location, that at all times we will be able to identify everything. So far as our inspectors are concerned they have done an excellent job and will continue to do so. The study to which I have referred is the five-year study which was carried out recently in the United Kingdom.
By the soil association.
There were a number of groups involved in that study and the conclusion—
The six minutes for dealing with this question have expired.
The documentation has been transferred to Teagasc. I cannot decide whether a study in the United Kingdom is published or otherwise. Teagasc is doing a desk evaluation plus a scientific evaluation of that study which has come to it along with the data from various other countries. That is an ongoing process and something that will not arrive at a sudden conclusion.
We have gone well over the time on this question.
I assure the Deputy we are dealing with this matter in a careful managed way. As public representatives and as members of Parliament we have to recognise that we have a responsibility as a nation, within the State—
The Minister will have to give way.
—and we may have to accept either taking decisions ourselves—
In fairness to Deputies who have asked questions it is important that the Minister give way. Question No. 5 please.
It is hard to get information from the Minister of State.
It was a very difficult question and I want to—
The Minister of State is doing a great deal of talking but what is he telling the House?
The Minister will have to give way. I have called the next question.
We have to accept that the EU may have to take a decision or we may have to take a decision or both. I will send the report anyway.
