Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 516: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the idea of enabling the European Food Safety Authority to consider the long-term health and environmental implications of the release of genetically modified organisms into the environment as part of every licensing application for GMOs; his further views on the fact that none of the GMOs currently approved for production in the EU have been positively approved by the EU Council of Ministers; the reason he does not support a moratorium on all future GM approvals in the EU pending the determination of possible scenarios that might arise from the perceived laxness in the GMO approval system; and his further views on proposals to amend the comotology procedure in order that such approvals in future will have to be made by the EU Council of Ministers. [18872/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I assume that the Question relates to the implementation of EU Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms and the role of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in that process.

Under the Directive, the national competent authority to which the notification for placing on the market is submitted is charged with leading the examination of the environmental risk assessment; in this connection, the national authority must consult with the competent authorities of the other Member States. This process of examination is designed inter alia to address the possibility of risks in the longer term and provides an opportunity for all Member States to consider such issues.

Under Directive 2001/18/EC, EFSA's opinion is obtained by the European Commission on disagreements between the national competent authorities on any scientific matter relating to a notification. In as much as disagreements relate to long-term health and environmental implications, these would in turn fall to be considered by EFSA. The role of EFSA generally in the authorisation process has however been raised by some Member States and is being further examined by the Commission and Member States in prospect of the Environment Council in June 2006.

The current EU-wide authorisation procedures for GMOs are recognised as among the most stringent in the world and they have been subject to considerable development and refinement. In these circumstances, the case for a moratorium on future approvals is not evident.

Finally, the power of initiative in relation to bringing forward proposals to amend the comitology procedure rests with the European Commission. Should any such proposals be developed, they would be examined by the Irish Government on a cross-Departmental basis, bearing in mind the possible implications for issues beyond GMO decision-making also.