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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to (a) conduct and (b) commission further research on how GM plants might invade new habitats. [148903] Mr. Morley: The Department has commissioned research on the potential invasiveness of GM crops. An example is "An Investigation of Feral Oilseed Rape Populations" the report of which was published in February 1999. Details of this and other Defra-funded research projects that have included a consideration of the invasiveness of GM crops are available on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/research. In addition to work funded by the Department there has been a large body of research on the invasiveness of GM and other plants conducted elsewhere. This body of research was recently reviewed by the GM Science Review (details available from www.gmsciencedebate. org.uk). Chapter 6.2 of the their final report specifically considered research on the risks of invasiveness of GM crops. The risks of invasiveness of GM crops are carefully assessed prior to any release. The Government's statutory advisers on GM crop releases--the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE)-- have advised that in the case of all previous releases, that the risks of invasiveness have been low. This view was supported by the Science Review. However both ACRE and the Science Review highlight the need to continually monitor developments and we are currently considering future research requirements in this area.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

416 c1368W;416 c1365-6W; 148903

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Crops Contamination Environment Genetically modified organisms Safety Research

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk