Genetically Modified Organisms

Alan Simpson
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements are in place to ensure that contamination of non-genetically modified (GM) potato crops (a) via GM volunteers and (b) otherwise (i) is minimised and (ii) is detected if it occurs.

Ian Pearson
[holding answer 14 June 2007]: It is assumed that this question relates to the statutory consents granted to BASF to conduct trials of GM disease-resistant potatoes. The consents specify a number of detailed conditions to ensure that a GM presence does not arise in conventional potato crops. These include appropriate requirements on managing volunteers, crop separation, monitoring and reporting. Compliance with the consent conditions will be checked by the DEFRA GM Inspectorate.