Written Answers. - Genetically Modified Organisms.
David Stanton
Ceist:
392
Mr. Stanton
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the measures, if any, he has put, or will put, into place to enable the consumer to choose between food stuffs and other products that depend on the presence of genetically modified organisms in the raw materials from which the end products are produced and food stuffs from other products that are guaranteed to be free from genetically modified organisms; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21982/98]
David Stanton
Ceist:
393
Mr. Stanton
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the measures he has put, or will put, in place to provide appropriate information and education to the consumer in order that the consumer can be facilitated in choosing between traditional foods and genetically modified foods; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[21983/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 392 and 393 together.
I am very much aware of the concerns of consumers in relation to genetically engineered food. The primary purpose of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act, enacted in July, is the protection of consumers and this is reflected in the structure of the authority. In addition to the authority's governing board, provision has been made for a 24-member consultative council which will provide a forum for consumer representatives to voice their concerns. The authority's scientific committee has also established a GMO and novel foods sub-committee which serves to advise me on issues in this area together with affording a forum for the exchange of expert scientific opinion and advice on this new technology.
There are strict legislative controls on the genetic modification of foodstuffs and my Department is responsible for the implementation of the relevant European Community measures in this area.
Regulation (EC) No. 258/97 on novel foods and novel food ingredients was adopted in February 1997 by the European Parliament and Council. This regulation applies to the placing on the market of foods and food ingredients which have not hitherto been used for human consumption to a significant degree within the European Community. Foods 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 of last year. The regulation provides that novel foods and novel food ingredients must undergo a safety assessment and be officially approved/authorised before being placed on the European market. It ensures that common rules and procedures in relation to novel foods and novel food ingredients apply across all member states of the European Union. These controls provide protection to consumers and the matter will be kept under continuing review to ensure that this continues to be the case.
The regulation 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. There must also be specific labelling to advise the consumer of the presence in the novel food or novel food ingredient of material which is not present in an existing equivalent foodstuff and which may have implications for the health of certain sections of the population; material which is not present in an existing equivalent foodstuff and which gives rise to ethical concerns; or an organism genetically modified by techniques of genetic modification.
Council Regulation (EC) No. 1139/98 provides for additional specific labelling requirements in respect of two genetically modified products and their derivatives (a genetically modified soya and a genetically modified maize) which were placed on the market in Europe before the coming into force of the Novel Foods Regulation in May 1997, and which would have fallen within the scope of the Novel Foods Regulation if it had been in force at the time. This regulation was adopted by council on 26th May 1998 and came into force in every EU member state on 1 September.
The labelling requirements for novel foods contained in Regulations (EC) No. 258/97 and 1139/98 are in addition to the general national and EU food labelling provisions which are the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
In relation to the latest EU measures on labelling, my Department is in consultation with both the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and representatives of industry to ensure that consumers are informed to the greatest degree possible in relation to genetic modification of foodstuffs. This issue is also the subject of ongoing discussions at EU level and I can assure the Deputy that in these discussions Ireland will continue to press other member states to address the consumer concerns which exist in this area.
