Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 8 September 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 September 2004. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Thursday, 16 September 2004 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, whether it is her policy to ensure co-existence measures between GM and non-GM crops are in place before supporting the addition to Europe's common catalogue of seeds varieties of GM maize. - (Holding answer 13 September 2004).

Answer: Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is her policy to ensure co-existence measures between GM and non-GM crops are in place before supporting the addition to Europe's common catalogue of seeds varieties of GM maize. [188756] Mr. Morley: [holding answer 13 September 2004]: It is the Government's clear policy to introduce measures on the issue of the co-existence of GM and non-GM crops before commercial cultivation takes place in the UK. We do not expect commercial cultivation of GM crops in the UK before 2008. The recent decision to add 17 varieties of GM maize to the EU Common Catalogue of seed varieties does not alter this as the varieties in question are not appropriate for cultivation in UK conditions.

Secondary information