John Gormley
Ceist:202 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children whether a revaluation of policy has occurred, or is occurring, in relation to the use and propagation of genetically modified organisms. [10674/98]
Written Answers. - Genetically Modified Organisms.
Responsibility for different aspects of policy on genetically modified organisms spans several Government Departments.
My Department is responsible for Regulation (EC) 258/97, which 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 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 Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has responsibility for developments in the biotechnology industry.
The Department of the Environment and Local Government through the Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for Directive
90/219/EEC on the contained use of genetically modified organisms and for Directive 90/220/EEC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms. This encompasses research and development including field trials, and the placing on the market of products containing genetically modified organisms but excludes those products which fall within the scope of the Novel Food Regulation.
I am aware that the Department of the Environment and Local Government is at present preparing a national position paper on the issue of genetic modification. My Department will be happy to contribute to those aspects of this exercise which fall within its competence. I hope that this position paper will form the basis for the development of a national policy on genetic modification.