To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evidence he considered before agreeing to the 0.9 per cent. threshold for genetically modified organisms in the new organic standards adopted on 12 June 2007. (143957)

We share the view of the Commission and most other member states, that it would be too difficult and costly for organic producers to apply a GM threshold significantly lower than 0.9 per cent. It would imply, for example, that the organic supply chain would need to undertake widespread testing where products were liable to have an unintended GM presence. Such testing is expensive and time-consuming. During discussions, organic stakeholder groups indicated that they did not favour including a threshold below 0.9 per cent. in the EU organic production regulation.