Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2004
3 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will initiate a debate on public views concerning genetically modified food and, in so doing, articulate Government actions and policy to date on this issue, including the requirement and size of buffer zones, in view of the Government belief in co-existence between genetically modified and conventional crops. [9377/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraOver the past two years, there has been a significant amount of discussion in the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament on legislation dealing with GMOs. This has lead to the adoption through the co-decision procedure of wide-ranging legislative measures which seek to ensure that the most stringent assessment and control procedures for the cultivation and use of GM crops and GM food are applied within the EU. These measures will ensure that the highest standards of food safety and environmental protection will apply equally across the Community. The exercise of these controls is supported by the establishment of the European Food Safety Authority which makes available to the citizens of the EU an independent scientific body in which they can have the utmost confidence and trust with regard to the assessment, advice and communication of any risk associated with GMs or any food safety matter.
With regard to the co-existence of GM crops alongside non-GM crops, the Commission, in conjunction with the European Parliament and Council, decided that controls in this area should be addressed at member state level under a series of guidelines. As a result, all member states, including Ireland, are in the process of drawing up strategies and best practices to enable the effective co-existence of GM crops with non-GM crops. To establish the appropriate measures necessary for Irish farming practices and farming conditions, an interdepartmental-interagency working group has been established by my Department and has been given the task of identifying and evaluating the issues and implications for crop production in Ireland that would arise from the cultivation of GM crops and of developing proposals for a national strategy and best practices to ensure the co-existence of GM crops with conventional and organic farming.
The group is examining the many aspects of this process, such as adequate distances, buffers, liability, prior notification and so forth. As part of its work programme, it proposes to have discussions with relevant stakeholders in the preparation of its recommendations on the strategies and best practices for coexistence.
The highest standard would be to have no GM food but that is not what the Minister means when he refers to the highest standards in protecting conventional and organic farmers from GM food. The Minister referred to the national strategy. Will that strategy include a national debate on GMOs, as happened in the UK? Does the Minister have a view on the debate that took place in the UK on GM food? We have not yet had a debate here, so will the Minister kick-start that debate?
Ireland was one of only six EU states to vote for authorisation of Bt11 GM maize. When will the Government produce a response to the question I asked about buffer zones? In Austria, 11% organic means the buffer zones are widespread and, accordingly, small amounts of GMOs can be grown. Is the Minister aware that no insurance company, to my knowledge, will insure a conventional or an organic farmer against GM contamination? What is his response to conventional and organic farmers on that point? Will he collaborate with the Northern Ireland authorities about the all-Ireland situation, given that GM production does not respect borders? As the Minister spoke about a national strategy, would he be in favour of appointing representatives of consumers and NGOs to, for example, Food Safety Authority and EPA committees dealing with GMOs so there can be full consultation?
Regarding GMOs generally, much useful debate has taken place and is taking place throughout the country, particularly since the publication of the report of the interdepartmental group on modern biotechnology by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in October 2000 which established the Government's positive but precautionary position on biotechnology. I am liaising with the UK authorities regarding GMOs and keeping abreast of developments in the interdepartmental working group on GMOs which is chaired by an officer of the Department of Agriculture and Food and comprises representatives of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the EPA, Teagasc and various sectoral divisions of the Department of Agriculture and Food and is, therefore, widely representative of interested parties. Bodies such as the EPA and Teagasc include a range of interested people, including consumers, to give best advice to Government. I am not yet in a position to say what the situation is likely to be regarding buffer zones and some other issues the Deputy raised. I await the outcome of the working group's study which I hope to have fairly shortly. This will inform me of the best approach to take regarding the technical matters the Deputy raised.
The Minister gives no timeframe. He is awaiting an outcome. Is it not the case that the European Commission has specified a period within which the Council of Ministers must produce an outcome regarding, for example, genetically-modified maize? Will that be dealt with by the Council of Agriculture Ministers or by the Council of Environment Ministers? I understand that matter had not been decided. Perhaps there has been a decision on it.
The question of insurance, to which the Minister did not refer, is a very valid one. However, both conventional and organic growers and farmers are very concerned about the lack of insurance cover in case of GM contamination. Has the Department anything to say to those farmers?
A period of time has been specified, as the Deputy suggested. It is three months.
Is it from January?
No, it takes us up to May. I inquired about it during the week and was told it was still in progress. When the procedure is complete I will receive a communication regarding whether it will go before the Council of Environment Ministers or the Council of Agriculture Ministers. That stage has not yet been reached.
Insurance is a commercial matter. In a range of areas relating to agriculture, animal diseases, mud slides and so on, I would very much like insurance cover to be in place for the farming community and producers. It would take much pressure off the Department of Agriculture and Food. Similarly, in the case of GM crops, I would like insurance companies to take a more positive approach.
