Genetically Modified Crops

House of Lords written question – answered at on 12 January 2009.

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Photo of The Countess of Mar The Countess of Mar Crossbench

To ask Her Majesty's Government in the light of their statements about the safety of genetically modified crops, what assessment they have made of the paper by M Malatesta, F Perdoni, G Santin, S Battistelli, S Muller, M Biggiogera (2008) entitled Hepatoma tissue culture (HTC) cells as a model for investigating the effects of low concentrations of herbicide on cell structure and function (published in Toxicol In Vitro on 18 September 2008, 18835430), which shows that Roundup residues interfere with multiple metabolic pathways; and what measures they propose in the light of its findings.

Photo of Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Minister of State (Sustainable Development, Climate Change Adaptation and Air Quality), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Minister of State (Sustainable Development, Climate Change Adaptation and Air Quality), Department for Energy and Climate Change, Minister of State (Department of Energy and Climate Change), Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) (Sustainable Development, Climate Change Adaptation and Air Quality) (also in the Department for Energy and Climate Change), Deputy Leader of the House of Lords

The use of glyphosate ("Roundup") is not limited to genetically modified (GM) crops. Moreover, although some existing GM crops are specifically meant to be grown in association with the use of glyphosate, other types are not.

Pesticides are extensively tested and subject to a rigorous evaluation process before being approved. Residues of pesticides in all crops are controlled by Maximum Residue Level (MRL) regulations and are checked against acceptable exposure levels.

The study mentioned does not provide new information that would require the existing risk assessment for glyphosate to be revised. Published literature on pesticides is monitored and the Government would investigate further when information becomes available that questions the validity of existing risk assessments. That is not the case with this study.

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