Environment Food and Rural Affairs written question – answered at on 10 May 2004.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(1) what assessment she has made of the potential impacts on the European fermentation industry of the decision to be taken in Europe about whether to include within the traceability and labelling regulations those products produced with genetically modified micro-organisms; and if she will make a statement;
(2) what discussions she has held with and what representations she has received from (a) the Food and Drink Federation, (b) the European Federation of European Food Additives and Food Enzymes Industries, (c) the Confederation of Food and Drink Industries of the European Union, (d) individual companies involved in the fermentation sector and (e) other stakeholders about the interpretation of the new traceability and labelling regulations in relation to products produced with genetically modified micro-organisms;
(3) what recent representations she has received about the forthcoming discussions with the European Commission and other member states about the interpretation of the new traceability and labelling regulations in relation to products produced with genetically modified micro-organisms;
(4) what her policy objectives are for the forthcoming discussions with the European Commission and other member states about the interpretation of the new traceability and labelling regulations in relation to products produced with genetically modified micro-organisms when those organisms are not contained in the final product; and what specific communication she (a) has had and (b) intends to have with other member states to secure those objectives.
The Secretary of State has not discussed the interpretation of the new traceability and labelling regulations in relation to products produced with genetically modified micro-organisms with stakeholders. However, last autumn officials from the Food Standards Agency and my Department held a series of stakeholder meetings with those interested in the new legislation, including industry bodies and associations, to discuss the implications and scope of both the Genetically Modified Food and Feed Regulation (EC) 1829/2003 and the Traceability and Labelling Regulation (EC) 1830/2003.
At one of these meetings and subsequently, the food and feed industry raised specific concerns in relation to the labelling of products arising from a fermentation process using either genetically modified micro-organisms and/or genetically modified substrates. The UK and other member states raised this issue with the Commission who have undertaken to take forward a discussion at Standing Committee where the Food Standards Agency will seek clarification on the status of these products.
During negotiations on the content of the regulations at European level in 2001 my Department held a separate consultation on the content of the regulations, which provided an additional opportunity for stakeholders, including those in the fermentation industry, to raise issues and concerns.
The Commission produced a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) of the new Regulations prior to negotiations. Furthermore, following meetings with stakeholders last year and subsequent discussions with the European Commission to promote consistency of interpretation across the European Union, my Department and the Food Standards Agency have recently launched a new public consultation on the domestic implementation of the new regulations. This includes draft guidance and draft Regulatory Impact Assessment. Final versions will be published once responses have been considered.
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