James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the grounds on which she considers it logical to approve of the importation of meat, reared on genetically modified maize and yet to refuse to sanction the acceleration of GM maize approval in the EU, making an unequal market for Irish meat. [27847/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The process used for the authorisation of genetically modified animal feeds, including maize, is governed by EU legislation which is binding on all Member States. I support that authorization process.

As I have already informed the House, I welcome the signing of an agreement recently between EFSA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to assess food safety risks. I hope that the difficulties associated with the lack of synchronization in the GM authorization processes between the EU and the US will be addressed as part of this agreement.