Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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497. To ask the Minister for Health if he supports the proposal by the British Government to liberalise EU regulations on genetically modified food products. [29029/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Health adopts a positive but precautionary approach to GM food. Each application for authorisation to allow the placing of food containing, consisting of or produced from GMOs on the markets of EU Member States is assessed on a case by case basis. The food in question must first be deemed safe by both the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the competent authority in the country of application before authorisation is considered.

At this time, I am not aware of any proposal to liberalise EU regulations on GM food products. Any proposal to change the current system would have to be presented and reviewed at EU expert working group level before any change could be considered.