Written question asked by Simon Thomas (Plaid Cymru) on Monday, 3 November 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 13 November 2003. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Thursday, 13 November 2003 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on (a) research into the overall efficacy of the Liberty (GA) herbicide regime in the Farm Scale Evaluation of GM maize and (b) research in the UK and other countries on the rate of development of resistance to the herbicide Liberty in common weeds. - Including ref to Heard et al. 2003; Weeds in fields with contrasting conventional and genetically modified herbicide tolerant crops. 1. Effects on abundance and diversity, in Library. (Holding answer 6 November 2003).

Answer: Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on (a) research into the overall efficacy of the Liberty (GA) herbicide regime in the Farm Scale Evaluation of GM maize and (b) research in the UK and other countries on the rate of development of resistance to the herbicide Liberty in common weeds. [136805] Mr. Morley :[holding answer 6 November 2003]: The published results of the farm-scale evaluations present the most in-depth study of the efficacy of Liberty (GA), as used in the evaluations, ever conducted. For full details see Heard et al. 2003; "Weeds in fields with contrasting conventional and genetically modified herbicide tolerant crops. 1. Effects on abundance and diversity"; Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society (B). 358 (1439): 1819-1832. A copy of this journal has been placed in the Library. As part of the procedure to issue consent for the release of a herbicide tolerant GM crop the applicants must present evidence that the use of the associated herbicide (eg Liberty in this case) does not lead to environmental harm through the development of resistance in common weeds. This includes a consideration based on any available research findings. The issue of weed resistance to herbicides is not unique to GM crops.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 136805; 413 c412W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Crops Genetically modified organisms Pesticides Research Weedkillers
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk