Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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233. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding genetically modified organisms and pesticides (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44066/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There are no genetically modified (GM) cultivars of any crop grown in Ireland. This technology has been concentrated on the development of useful agronomic traits in the production of grain maize, cotton, sugar beet, etc. The EU has authorised the cultivation of only one GM cultivar of maize (predominantly grown in Spain). The trait in that cultivar is aimed at the control of the corn borer pest and the use of this variety negates the need for multiple applications of insecticides.

The Seralinistudy quoted in the question has been discredited with the European Food Safety Authority ( EFSA ) finding that the methodology used in the study was flawed and the conclusions drawn not justified by the data provided.

Regarding the use of glyphosate on herbicide tolerant crops outside the EU, both the GM trait utilised in the crop seed and the herbicide glyphosate have undergone rigorous testing throughout the world.

Glyphosate was reviewed in 2002, as part of the EU plant protection product review programme which has allowed its use to date. The initial review in 2002 was carried out by Germany acting as the Rapporteur Member State (RMS) and this evaluation was peer reviewed by the other EU Member States. A re-review is currently underway, with Germany again acting as the RMS with Slovakia acting as a Co-RMS. The process of peer reviewing the evaluation is coming to a conclusion and it is expected that this process will be completed within the next 6 months.

All uses of glyphosate approved in Ireland are in line with approved uses in all other EU Member States. Uses are only granted if the appropriate risk assessment indicates that safe uses are possible under normal conditions. Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 regulates the authorisation, marketing and use of plant protection products (PPPs) and as such each registration must conform to the norms, methodologies and principles contained therein. Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) are currently in place facilitating all currently registered uses.

Regulatory Authorities throughout the world have assessed its safety for human health through oral, dermal and inhalation toxicity studies involving single, repeat and lifetime exposure in rats, mice, rabbits and dogs. Additionally, there are highly specific tests that evaluate whether glyphosate has any impact on genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, reproductive and developmental parameters and to assess if glyphosate has any carcinogenicity potential following long term exposure.

The comprehensive health assessments conducted by public authorities over the past 40 years have consistently concluded that glyphosate does not pose any unacceptable risk to human health or the environment.