Written question asked by Jackie Lawrence (Labour) on Thursday, 26 April 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 8 May 2001. It was answered by Michael Meacher (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 May 2001 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, on what date the original safety assessments were undertaken on Chardon-LL and T25 maize made by ACRE; and what other bodies were responsible for undertaking such safety assessments. - (Holding answer 2 May 2001).

Answer: Mrs. Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on what date the original safety assessments were undertaken on Chardon-LL and T25 maize made by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment; and what other bodies were responsible for undertaking such safety assessments. [159995] Mr. Meacher: [holding answer 2 May 2001]: Chardon LL is a variety of T25 maize. The original safety assessments for marketing approval of T25 maize under Directive 90/220 were made by the French Authorities (refer to PQ 159994 above) in 1995. The application dossier was then referred to the UK and the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) considered this on 20 June 1996. English Nature, as well as the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Health and Safety Executive and the then Department of the Environment also undertook safety assessments. ACRE was satisfied that the T25 did not pose a risk to human health and the environment. This included consideration of animal feed safety in association with MAFF. The Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes also considered the safety of T25 and advised that the product was safe for use in food.

Secondary information