Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her views on the European Commission's view that governments of member states should take more responsibility for European policy on commercial approval of genetically modified organisms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14224/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is obviously referring to a draft document prepared by the Commission for a meeting of the college of Commissioners, held last March, to review the current state of the European GMO legislative framework. It should be noted that following that meeting, the Commission confirmed its full confidence in the existing regulatory system and did not consider it necessary to call on the governments of member states to take on any additional responsibility.

Over the past six years or so, a comprehensive suite of legislation governing the deliberate release, the authorisation and the labelling and traceability of genetically modified products has been put in place. This was done to ensure that the highest standards of protection operate to safeguard the health and environmental welfare of the citizens of the Community. That legislation was adopted under the co-decision procedure, which implies that each individual piece of legislation secured the agreement of both the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers. The legislation is binding on all member states.

The position of the Government on genetically modified organisms, which was informed by the report of the interdepartmental group on modern biotechnology published by the Government Stationery Office in October 2000 is positive but precautionary. This takes account of the undoubted potential that biotechnology offers in the fields of medicine, health, agriculture, etc., while at the same time recognising that caution must be exercised to ensure that food safety and the environment are protected. This position is fully consistent with the EU legislation currently in place.