Bernard J. Durkan
Question:96 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position on the growth and sale of genetically modified foods here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15109/04]
View answerThursday, 20 May 2004
Questions (96)
Written answers
In Ireland, responsibility for the deliberate release of genetically modified seeds into the environment comes under the Environmental Protection Agency, and once approved, responsibility for regulating the actual cultivation and coexistence of the approved genetically modified crop with non-genetically modified crops rests with the Department of Agriculture and Food. An interdepartmental and interagency working group has been established in my Department to develop proposals for a national strategy and best practices on such co-existence. No genetically modified crops have been approved for cultivation and placing on the market in Ireland.
Responsibility for aspects relating to the authorisation and labelling of genetically modified food rests with the Department of Health and Children and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. There are stringent safeguards in place regarding the authorisation and labelling and traceability requirements for genetically modified food. The recent decision by the EU Commission to authorise Bt11 genetically modified sweetcorn for food use was based on scientific risk assessments undertaken by the Netherlands food assessment body and the EU scientific committee on food. The product will be labelled as a genetically modified organism so the consumer can exert choice.