Vol. 571 No. 4
219 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will encourage farmers here to create the types of GM-free production zones outlined by Commissioner Fischler in Brussels on 29 September 2003; and, if so, the measures his Department will take to ensure non-contamination by GM species. [22219/03]
220 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will make a statement on the discussion on GMOs which took place at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting of 29 September 2003; and the stance taken by him at that meeting in relation to the issue of the co-existence of GM and non GM crops. [22220/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 220 together.
The Irish position on GMOs, as set out in the report of the interdepartmental group on modern biotechnology in October 2000, is one of being positive but precautionary. Over the past year a series of legislative measures on GMOs has been adopted by the EU aimed at providing maximum protection for the citizens of Europe and the environment. This legislation covers: the deliberate release of GMOs into the environment; GM food and feed; GM labelling and traceability; and the co-existence of GM crops with conventional and organic crops. All of the legislation, with the exception of that on co-existence, is in the form of binding Community-wide regulations.
On the issue of co-existence, a subsidiarity approach will apply where each member state will be responsible for drawing up its own national strategy. In this it will be assisted by guidelines prepared by the Commission. These co-existence guidelines were discussed at the Agriculture Council meeting held in Brussels on 29 September 2003.
One of the issues being explored by the Presidency is the possibility of having GMO free zones among the range of measures required to facilitate co-existence. My position on this is that the establishment of such zones could be a practicable measure for ensuring co-existence taking cognisance of the structural and production conditions in each member state. This matter is currently being examined by a technical working group set up in my Department.
