Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 316: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will put in place a moratorium on trials of genetically modified organisms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41899/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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A company who wishes to carry out a field trial of a genetically modified organism (GMO) in an EU member state must apply for approval to the relevant national competent authority designated under Part B of EU Directive 2001/18/EC. Member states are obliged to transpose the Directive, including the procedure for assessment of, and decisions on, applications for field trials of GMOs.

Directive 2001/18/EC has been transposed into Irish law by the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 2003. These regulations assign the function of evaluating applications under Part B of the Directive to the Environmental Protection Agency.