Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

The value of the seed potato industry in 2005 is estimated at €5.8 million and the value of sales of certified seed potatoes on the domestic market in 2005 is estimated at €2.8 million, with exports valued at €170,000.

The notification by BASF to trial genetically modified potatoes was made to the Environmental Protection Agency in accordance with Part B of EU Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release of GMOs into the environment, as transposed into Irish legislation by the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 2003.

While the Department is responsible for developing coexistence arrangements between authorised GM and non-GM crops, it has no role with regard to experimental trials such as the one applied for in County Meath. This is a matter solely for the EPA. Since procedures under legislation are in play it would be inappropriate to comment on this particular application.

There is consumer concern about GMOs. It was for that reason that a series of legislative measures has been adopted by the EU over the past few years to ensure the highest possible standards of food safety are in place and that the environment is fully protected. These legislative measures have been adopted by the co-decision procedure involving the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers. Furthermore, the European Food Safety Authority, which was established in 2002, provides independent scientific risk assessment on all GMO applications which should help further to allay consumer concerns.

The legislative measures which the Department is responsible for relate to the placing on the market of authorised feed and the cultivation of GM crops. With regard to the latter, I am in the process of drawing up coexistence measures between GM and non-GM crops in Ireland. I have a report produced by an interdepartmental working group which sets out a strategy and best practices for coexistence arrangements here. I have sought submissions from the public on the report to assist me in drawing up statutory based coexistence controls here in due course.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

In the evaluation of potential GM crops in Ireland, the report identifies the potato as a crop that presents a low risk of gene flow that cannot outcross with any other Irish crop or wild relatives here in Ireland. The report states that the potential for the adventitious presence of non-GM potatoes could only arise if significant numbers of tubers remained in the ground post-harvest which, if not properly managed, could lead to their presence in subsequent crops.

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