Written question asked by Robert Key (Conservative) on Thursday, 19 June 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 30 June 2003. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Monday, 30 June 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of whether there is a need to test the safety of GM food in addition to the requirements of Regulation 258/97/EC.

Answer: Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of whether there is a need to test the safety of GM food in addition to the requirements of Regulation 258/97/EC. [121293] Miss Melanie Johnson: I have been asked to reply. In June 2000, the Food Standards Agency board reviewed the current safety assessment procedures employed by the UK Competent Authority under Regulation 258/97/EEC in the safety testing of genetically modified foods. The board was satisfied that the current safety assessment procedures are sufficiently robust and rigorous to ensure that approved GM foods are as safe to eat as their non-GM counterparts.

Secondary information