Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 30 Apr 1998

Vol. 490 No. 4

Written Answers. - Genetic Engineering.

Michael D. Higgins

Ceist:

19 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children the provisions to regulate and control genetic engineering; if his attention has been drawn to any research being carried out in this area; and the proposals, if any, he has to further regulate this matter. [10250/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

24 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children whether a revaluation of policy occurred, or is occurring, in relation to the use of genetically modified organisms. [10176/98]

John V. Farrelly

Ceist:

37 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the genetic engineering of food. [5926/98]

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

95 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, he will take to reassure the public in view of consumer concern regarding genetically modified foodstuffs, and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9404/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Dr. Moffatt)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 24, 37 and 95 together.

Regulation (EC) 258/97 came into effect in all member states of the European Union in mid-May 1997 and the Department of Health and Children is the competent authority for its implementation in Ireland. The regulation applies to the placing on the market of novel foods and novel food ingredients. Food 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 its scope.

The provisions of regulation are intended to provide protection to consumers. The regulation 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-authorised before being placed on the European market. The regulation also contains provisions for the labelling of novel food and food ingredients. My Department has asked the Food Safety Authority of Ireland for its advice on novel foods including the question of the perceived lack of consumer confidence in genetically modified foods and the matter is being dealt with by a special subcommittee.

Responsibility for different aspects of genetic engineering spans several Government Departments. My Department is responsible for the safety assessment of genetically modified foods which fall within the scope of the novel foods regulation; the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has responsibility for developments in the biotechnology industry and the Department of the Environment and Local Government is responsible for the wider issue of the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms. I am aware that that Department is at present preparing a national position paper on the issue of genetic modification. My Department is happy to contribute to those aspects of this exercise which fall within its competence and indeed preliminary discussions have already taken place between officials. In advance of publication of this position paper, I am keeping an open mind on the issue of genetic modification including that of genetically modified foodstuffs.