The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) of the Parliament of the United Kingdom has received replies from the Government to its Eleventh Report of Session 2003-04, GM Planting Regime, which was published on 8 July  2004 as HC 607

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee reported to the House on the GM Planting Regime in its Eleventh Report of Session 2003–04, published on 8 July 2004 as HC 607. The Government’s Reply to the Report was received on 29 September 2004.

Government response

Introduction

The Government welcomes the opportunity to respond to the EFRA subcommittee’s conclusions and recommendations regarding the issue of the coexistence of GM and non-GM crops and the related issue of liability.

The Government recognises that measures are needed to ensure that GM and non-GM crops can co-exist. Our statement to Parliament in March set out the parameters for the approach we would take on this issue. We envisage that there will be a regime where GM farmers will observe a code of practice which has statutory backing. The aim of the measures is to ensure that adventitious GM presence in non-GM crops is within the 0.9% EU traceability and labelling threshold. In addition, we said we would explore with stakeholders:

• whether a lower GM threshold might apply for organic production;

• options for a mechanism to redress economic losses experienced by non-GM farmers who, through no fault of their own, suffer financially because a GM presence in their crops exceeds the legislative thresholds for labelling; and

• guidance to farmers interested in establishing voluntary GM-free zones.

In July, after the Committee’s report was published, the Government further announced a two-stage process of consultation with stakeholders on the development of a co-existence regime. Our intention remains to introduce coexistence measures before any commercial cultivation of GM crops takes place in the UK. However, no commercial cultivation of any GM crop is expected before 2008. Accordingly, we have some time to consider this issue and the Government is proposing a comprehensive approach to engaging with those who have interests and expertise in this area.

Report in PDF format:  http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmenvfru/1128/1128.pdf