Written question asked by Alan Simpson (Labour) on Tuesday, 6 December 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 8 December 2005. It was answered by Caroline Flint (Labour) on Thursday, 9 February 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

GM Food

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research findings she has assessed on the health implications of (a) GM soya and (b) the introduction of genes from bean varieties into GM peas.

Answer: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has sought advice from the advisory committee on novel food and processes (ACNFP) regarding what conclusions may be drawn from the results of a preliminary study conducted in Russia on the offspring of rats given flour from genetically modified soya beans. The ACNFP discussed this study on 24 November 2005 and a statement detailing its comments has been published on the ACNFP's website along with the draft minutes of the meeting.At the same meeting, the FSA also sought advice from the ACNFP on a paper published by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, which details the immunological effects in mice exposed to peas genetically modified to contain a bean protein. The ACNFP's comments will be finalised when the minutes are formally adopted at the following meeting in January 2006. The draft minutes are available on the ACNFP's website at: www.acnfp.gov.uk/meetings/acnfpmeet2006/acnfpmeet25jan06/acnfpagendapapers25jan06.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 36424; 442 c1474W;442 c1474W
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Crops Health hazards Genetically modified organisms Soya beans Peas
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk