Vol. 500 No. 6
102 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health and Children the policy of his Department in relation to genetic engineering and food safety in view of the fact that a survey (details supplied) showed that only eight per cent are unconcerned by genetically modified organisms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4700/99]
I am very much aware of the concerns of consumers in relation to genetically engineered food. My Department is the competent authority in Ireland for EU legislation pertaining to the genetic modification of foodstuffs. Regulation (EC) No 258/97 came into force in all member states on 15 May 1997. This regulation applies to the placing on the market of novel foods and novel food ingredients. Food and food ingredients which have not, as of 15 May 1997, been used 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 be officially approved or authorised before being placed on the European market. The regulation also contains provisions in certain instances for the labelling of novel foods and food ingredients.
Council Regulation (EC) No 1139/98 concerning the labelling of certain foodstuffs produced from genetically modified organisms ensures that the provisions of Regulation 258/97 apply to foods and food ingredients consisting of or derived from GMOs which were placed on the market before the entry into force of Regulation 258/97. These controls provide protection to consumers and I am keeping the matter under continuing review to ensure that this continues to be the case. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland's Scientific Committee has 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 and its application to food.
Last August, my colleague, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government published a consultation paper on genetically modified organisms and the environment. The purposes of this consultation paper were to explain the regulatory process, identify key issues of concern and establish the views of all interested parties. The public consultation process is still under way and I await the outcome with interest.
