Trevor Sargent
Ceist:14 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will ensure the full disclosure of genetically engineered ingredients on labelling on imported as well as home produced food products. [19290/97]
Written Answers. - Genetically Modified Food.
John Gormley
Ceist:32 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will impose a moratorium on the marketing of foods which contain genetically modified ingredients. [19288/97]
Joe Higgins
Ceist:46 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Health and Children whether he supports the marketing of foods which contain genetically modified ingredients or which were produced using genetically modified organisms. [19297/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 32 and 46 together.
Regulation (EC) No. 258/97 provides that novel foods and novel food ingredients, if not substantially equivalent to their non-novel counterparts, must undergo a safety assessment and be officially approved and authorised before being placed on the European market. Foods and food ingredients which have not hitherto been used for human consumption to a significant degree within the European Community and which contain or are produced from a genetically modified organism fall, inter alia, within the scope of the regulation which came into effect in all member states in mid-May 1997. Prior to this date, there was no legislation on novel foods in Ireland.
Regulation 258/97 ensures that common rules and procedures in relation to the placing on the market of all novel foods and ingredients apply across all member states of the European Union. These controls are intended to provide protection to consumers. A moratorium on the marketing of foods which contain genetically modified organisms would not be consistent with this EU legislation.
Regulation 258/97 also contains provisions for the labelling of novel foods and food ingredients. Essentially, there must be specific labelling to inform the consumer of any characteristic or food property e.g. composition, nutritional value, nutritional effects, intended use of the food which renders a novel food or novel food ingredient no longer equivalent to an existing food or food ingredient. These labelling requirements for novel foods are in addition to the general food labelling provisions which are the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Enterprise and Employment. These labelling provisions apply throughout the European Union. The member states of the European Union with the European Commission are at present considering the detailed rules for the implementation of these labelling provisions. I wish to assure the House that in any EU discussions I will press for genetically modified foods to be so labelled to ensure the highest degree of consumer information. Pending resolution of this discussion at EU level, I am aware that voluntary guidelines on the labelling of genetically modified products are being discussed by Irish industry.
I am aware that my colleague, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, who has responsibility for EU legislation on the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms, recently asked his Department to prepare a national position paper on this subject. My Department will be happy to contribute to the food-related aspects of this exercise, which I understand will involve consultation with a wide variety of interests. In advance of its completion, I will be keeping an open mind on future policy in the field of genetic modification.