Written question asked by Simon Thomas (Plaid Cymru) on Monday, 8 March 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 March 2004. It was answered by Alun Michael (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 March 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 assessment she has made of the results of the GM herbicide review undertaken by the Swedish herbicide authorities on behalf of the EU; and whether these results will inform her decision on the granting of herbicide approval for Liberty herbicide to be used in the management of Chardon LL fodder maize.

Answer: Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the results of the GM herbicide review undertaken by the Swedish herbicide authorities on behalf of the EU; and whether these results will inform her decision on the granting of herbicide approval for Liberty herbicide to be used in the management of Chardon LL fodder maize. [160580] Alun Michael: The EU review of glufosinate ammonium is ongoing. Officials in the Pesticides Safety Directorate received a copy of the Swedish Authorities' draft assessment report in December 2003 and a series of EU expert working groups are due to meet over the summer to discuss various aspects of the report. Any information arising from the report that might be relevant to the scientific evaluation of any application for the approval for the commercial use of Liberty on Chardon LL fodder maize will be taken into account along with the data submitted in support of the application itself. Only if Ministers are satisfied, on the basis of the expert advice of the independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides, that the use proposed by the applicant is safe to people and the environment will approval be granted.

Secondary information