Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the Government will follow the example of regions in Austria, Italy or Greece which have total bans on genetically modified production at regional level, Poland, which has a ban on GM seeds and crops and Switzerland, which has put in place a ban on GM livestock and crops; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40703/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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As I have indicted to this House on previous occasions EU legislation on the cultivation of GM crops does not provide for the declaration of a GM free country or region. This legislation has been adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers and is binding on all Member States. There are, however, options available to restrict the growing of GM crops within regions of a country. One option is the concept of voluntarily developed GM free regions, which is being explored by a number of regional communities and authorities throughout the Community. Another option is to seek a derogation from the Commission that, on the basis of sound scientific evidence, co-existence is not possible in certain regions in respect of certain named crops. The cultivation of these crops can then be legitimately prohibited if the case made is accepted by the Commission. None of the bans referred to by the Deputy have received the approval of the Commission and are unlikely to receive such approval under the current legislation. The ban on certain GM varieties in Poland, accepted by the Commission, is based on scientific advice, relating to their unsuitability for production under Polish climatic conditions.