Question reference: S1W-01432
- Asked by: Margaret Smith, MSP for Edinburgh West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Date lodged: 8 September 1999
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Current status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 27 October 1999
Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-741 by the Minister for Rural Affairs on 7 September 1999, what safeguards are in place to ensure that genetically modified crops are 'quarantined' so that they cannot affect more traditional crops, whether by cross-pollination or any other means.
Answer
All releases for experimental purposes are subjected to specific risk management procedures under the regulatory arrangements designed to reduce the likelihood of spread of the GM plants or pollen from the test site. The independent statutory Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) undertakes detailed environmental risk assessments, on a case by case basis and they advise the Scottish Executive on whether or not a consent should be granted and what conditions should apply. If there was concern that harm might be done to the environment, neighbouring crops or the wider biodiversity then the advice would be against release and the consent would not be granted.