Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 15 June 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 20 June 2005. It was answered by Caroline Flint (Labour) on Tuesday, 28 June 2005 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Bt 10 Maize

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what quantities of Bt 10 maize have been imported into the UK; over what period; and what quantities she estimates have been consumed by (a) animals and (b) humans.

Answer: The exact quantity of Bt 10 maize imported into the United Kingdom is not known. It is estimated that up to 0.025 per cent., of the 2001–04 United States of America maize harvests may have contained Bt 10 maize and imports into the EU during this period may have contained Bt 10 maize at this level. The European food industry has stated to the commission that it only uses US maize products that are from protected non-genetically modified sources. The quantities of Bt 10 maize imported to the UK for food use should therefore be nil. Maize in the form of corn gluten feed and brewers' grains is imported from the US for animal feed. However, the amount of Bt 10 maize potentially consumed by animals is not known.

Secondary information