To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements he has made to deal with liability in the event that BASF’s genetically modified potato trials cause damage to the local economies, environment or health. (142666)

No specific arrangements have been made. The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) is satisfied that the trials will not have any adverse effect on human health or the environment. It is also difficult to see how the trials might unreasonably prejudice local economies. A concern has been raised about a possible indirect impact on growers of borage and this is being considered by BASF.