Written question asked by Stephen O'Brien (Conservative) on Tuesday, 23 March 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 19 April 2004. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Monday, 19 April 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, what consultations she has held with businesses affected by adding GM maize to the National Seed List.

Answer: Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultations she has held with businesses affected by adding GM maize to the National Seed List. [164023] Mr. Morley: Under National List legislation, before any variety is added to the list any person who would be affected by the proposed decision is given the opportunity to make written representations or request a hearing on the matter. Details of the proposal to add the only GM variety to date, the forage maize Chardon LL, to the National List were published in the Plant Varieties and Seeds Gazette No. 423 (March 2000). 227 individuals/organisations submitted written representations of which 60 also requested a hearing. Three further individuals/organisations requested a hearing only. The public hearing opened on 2 October 2000 and a digest of the matters raised at the hearing was published in December 2002.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 420 c125W; 164023
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Crops Genetically modified organisms Public participation Seeds Maize
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk