Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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218. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will acknowledge the worries of farmers here with regard to the recent Translantic Trade and Investment Partnership outcome, and most worryingly the power of the US agri-business lobby in introducing genetically modified foods to an open EU market, thus undercutting the high quality trademark that this country's beef producers are renowned for; if he will address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44341/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The text of the EU Commission’s mandate to negotiate with the United States on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is available on the EU Council’s website at .

Paragraph 25 of the mandate sets out the parameters of the negotiating mandate in so far as sanitary and phytosanitary measures are concerned.

Negotiations started in July, 2013, and since then, seven formal negotiating rounds have taken place, the most recent of which was during the week beginning 29 September. Sanitary and phytosanitary measures have been discussed during all the rounds. The EU tabled a draft text just before the last round, and it is expected that the US will do likewise in due course. As regards market access in the agriculture sector, discussions to date have focused on non-tariff issues. The EU has not yet made an offer with regard to tariffs.

While it is not yet clear when the TTIP negotiations will be concluded, there is an ambition on both sides to make all possible progress over the coming year towards a high standard TTIP agreement.

The EU Commission has put together answers to some frequently asked questions (FAQs) with regard to the TTIP negotiations, included in which is Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). The FAQs can be found at .

The position of the EU is clearly set out here: The EU will not be forced to change its laws on GMOs. Under current EU rules, GMOs that have been approved for use as food, for animal feed or for sowing as crops can already be sold in the EU. Applications for approval are assessed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and then sent to EU Member States for their opinion. So far, 52 GMOs have been authorised. The safety assessment which EFSA carries out before any GMO is placed on the market and the risk management procedure will not be affected by the negotiations.

The EU and US already exchange information on policy, regulations and technical issues concerning GMOs and the TTIP is an opportunity to support this cooperation.