Brian O'Shea
Ceist:143 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the Government's policy regarding GM food; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20976/02]
Written Answers. - Genetically Modified Organisms.
The Deputy will appreciate that a number of Departments have responsibilities in regard to genetically modified organisms. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has responsibility for developments in the biotechnology industry. The Department of Agriculture and Food has responsibility for proposed EU legislation on genetically modified animal feed and legislation on seed varieties which are in the process of being amended to take account of developments in gene technology. The Department of the Environment and Local Government is responsible for environmental issues in relation to GMOs. With regard to issues which fall within the remit of my Department, I should point out that policy in respect of genetically modified food is developed on an EU-wide basis. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland is the competent authority in Ireland for the enforcement of EU legislation regarding the genetic modification of foodstuffs.
Four European regulations are currently in force. Regulation (EC) 258/97 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients was steered through EU discussion by the Department of Agriculture and Food. This regulation provides for the mandatory labelling of foods and food ingredients which contain or consist of a GMO, without prejudice to the other labelling requirements of community law. The current GM labelling system as set out in this regulation is based on the detectability of genetically modified DNA or protein of GM origin in the final food product. In practice, this means that highly processed foodstuffs produced from GM material, such as highly refined oils from soya or maize, do not currently need to be labelled as long as GM DNA or protein are not detectable. The current labelling requirements for foods derived from a GMO but no longer containing the GMO are based on the concept of substantial equivalence. The labelling and other provisions of Regulation 258/97 as outlined above do not apply to foods or food ingredients which were used for human consumption to a significant degree within the Community before the entry into force of the regulation on 15 May 1997 and are not therefore considered to be novel.
Regulation (EC) 1139/98 concerns the compulsory indication on the labelling of certain foodstuffs produced from genetically modified organisms and is to ensure that the labelling 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, i.e. certain varieties of GM maize and GM soya. It is intended that the labelling provisions of this regulation will serve as a model to provide the rules applicable to the labelling of all foods and all food ingredients derived from GMOs.
Regulation (EC) 49/2000 of 10 January 2000, amending Council Regulation (EC) 1139/98, addresses the problem of adventitious contamination of GM material in conventional food. The adventitious or unintended presence of GMOs in products placed on the market in the European Union is largely unavoidable and can occur during cultivation, handling, storage and transport. This regulation introduced a 1% de minimis threshold for DNA or protein resulting from genetic modification, below which labelling is not required, provided operators can demonstrate that they have taken appropriate steps to avoid the presence of GM material. Regulation (EC) 50/2000, which was adopted in January 2000, ensures that additives and flavourings have to be labelled if DNA or protein of GMO origin is present in the final product.
On 25 July 2001, the European Commission adopted two legislative proposals on genetically modified organisms. The proposals establish a harmonised community system to trace GMOs, introduce the labelling of GM feed, reinforce the current labelling rules on GM food and establish a streamlined authorisation procedure for GMOs in food and feed and their deliberate release into the environment. The proposals aim to put into place a stringent regulatory framework and to close existing legal gaps. The proposals address the legitimate concerns of citizens, consumer organisations and economic operators. A strict safety assessment of GMOs will continue to ensure a high level of health and environmental protection. The labelling of all GM food and feed products will allow consumers and farmers to decide whether they want to buy food or feed produced from a GMO. I am advised that the Food Safety Authority of Ireland is satisfied that based on current scientific opinion, GM ingredients authorised within the EU are safe for human consumption.