John Dennehy
Ceist:181 Mr. Dennehy asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the national and EU regulations concerning the growing and sale of genetically modified crops. [16752/99]
Written Answers. - Genetically Modified Organisms.
Deirdre Clune
Ceist:194 Ms Clune asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will provide details of the EU Commission proposal to modify Directive 90/220/EEC; the progress, if any, made on this proposal in Brussels on 24 and 25 June 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16639/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 194 together.
Within the EU regulatory framework for the safe use of modern biotechnology, I have overall responsibility for Council Directive 90/220 EEC which provides for the intentional release of genetically modified organisms to the environment both for research and development purposes and for placing on the market. The provisions of the directive which require implementation at national level are transposed into Irish law by the Genetically Modified Organisms Regulations, 1994 – S.I. No. 345 of 1994 – as amended by the Genetically Modified Organisms (Amendment) Regulations, 1996 and 1997 – S.I. No. 348 of 1996 and S.I. No. 332 of 1997. The Environmental Protection Agency is the competent authority in Ireland for purposes of the regulations.
The proposal from the Commission to amend Directive 90/220/EEC is intended to extend and clarify the scope of the directive and to ensure procedures are commensurate with its scope; strengthen uniformity of decision-making between member states, based on common principles for risk assessment; facilitate linkage with other relevant product legislation; improve the labelling of GM products.
In the course of consideration of the proposal, and especially at its meeting on 24 June 1999, the Council of Environment Ministers made significant progress, with substantial input from Ireland, in strengthening the proposal. In particular, the proposal for a fast-track approval for marketing GM products was abandoned and significant improvements were made which resulted in new common principles to ensure consistency in undertaking environmental risk assessment of product notifications; a new provision imposing a ten year time limit on consents to market GM products, in parallel with new post-release monitoring requirements; greater transparency underpinned by improved labelling requirements linked to a provision to ensure full traceability of GM products through all stages of the production process; new provisions for public participation in the regulatory procedures for the placing of GM products on the EU market; and a recognition of ethical considerations and provision for them to be addressed.
On this basis the council agreed on the proposals, which will be subject to further consideration by the European Parliament and final codecision by Council and Parliament.