Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 10: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the way in which she will ensure against cross-contamination if genetically modified potatoes are grown in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5974/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The notification made by BASF to trial genetically modified potatoes at Summerhill, County Meath was made to the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. This application is in accordance with Part B of EU Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release of GMOs into the environment but not for entry to the food chain.

Responsibility for making a decision on the application is a matter for the Environmental Protection Agency. Under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations, S.I. No. 500 of 2003, which transposes Directive 2001/18/EC, stringent requirements on both the notifier and the agency are laid down. These include a formal notification to the agency, an advertisement by the notifier and determination by the agency of the notification within 90 days of its receipt.

In reaching its determination the EPA will have regard to compliance with the regulations, any observations or representations received and a scientific evaluation of the risks for human health and/or the environment which are posed by the proposed deliberate release. In this regard, the agency may grant consent, either with or without conditions, or refuse consent. Following trial of the crop, in the event that the notifier wishes to get the GMO authorised, there is a lengthy procedure involving the Commission and all member states before it could be authorised for commercial use.

While my 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.

With regard to coexistence, all member states, including Ireland, have been engaged in a process of drawing up strategies and best practices to provide for effective arrangements. In August 2003 an interdepartmental group, comprising representatives of the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Teagasc and the EPA, was established to examine issues relating to coexistence and to develop proposals for a national strategy and best practices for coexistence arrangements here.

I received the report and recommendations from the working group in November and in early December I arranged for the placing of the report on my Department's website and invited further observations from all interested parties. I have now extended the closing date for observations until the end of March. In finalising the coexistence measures for adoption here I will take into consideration all observations received on the issue.

To sum up, the EPA is the responsible body for ensuring that there is no cross contamination where a genetically modified organism is released into the environment under the experimental release section of the directive, as is proposed in the County Meath trial. In the event an application is made to grow an authorised GM potato variety here in Ireland, my Department is the responsible authority and any such application will be considered within the context of coexistence measures which are being finalised.