WRITTEN QUESTION E-1902/00

by Baroness Sarah Ludford (ELDR) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: GM seeds

The recent revelation in the UK that 1998 Canadian oilseed rape seeds sold by Advanta Seeds have been found to contain a presence of up to 1 % genetically modified material raises two serious issues. Firstly, contamination is said to have been caused by GM varieties growing over 800 metres from the crop. One scientific argument for commercial exploitation of GM crops is that they represent little risk of cross contamination to other non-GM or organic crops. Does the Commission agree that this incident underlines the need for the EU to exercise the utmost caution over the use of GM seeds, even for trial purposes, to protect biodiversity? What quantitative risk assessment evidence does the Commission have concerning the potential for contamination from GM crops to other crops and over what distances?

Secondly, the fact that the contaminated seeds were also unwittingly sown by farmers in France, Germany and Sweden has also highlighted the absence of any international regulation on seed purity. What measures will the Commission take to ensure purity of seeds imported into the EU? What measures will the Commission take to ensure that contaminated seeds do not circulate in the internal market?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(3 October 2000)

The Commission is aware of the recent revelation mentioned by the Honourable Member, but has no confirmed information on the sources of the presence of genetically modified material in the oilseed rape seeds concerned. One type of potential source could have been genetically modified GM varieties growing in insufficient distances from the crop.

The extent of gene flow between GM oilseed rape and non-GM fields, and between GM oilseed rape and feral populations depends mainly on the scale of pollen release and dispersal, and on the distances between source and recipient populations, the impact increasing notably with the size and number of fields planted. Prevailing local environmental factors such as temperature, humidity and light, as well as wind or rain, largely determine the dispersal of pollen, its vectors (insects, wind) and its viability.

Under the existing Community seed legislation aiming at ensuring sufficient seed quality, the Commission is currently preparing the adoption of standards for purity concerning the presence of genetically modified seeds as well as of specific labelling requirements for seeds in respect of genetically modified material (Annex to the Commission's White Paper on Food Safety, position 77). These standards should include minimum distances between the seed crop and fields with potential sources of undesirable pollination from GM plants, which would vary between crops, dependent on the level of risk of such pollination.

Authorisations under Council Directive 90/220/EEC EEC of 23 April 1990 on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms(1) are, in any case, only granted on the basis that there is no reason to believe that the release will have an adverse effect on human health or the environment under the conditions of consent. In this context, it should be noted that the potential transfer of transgenes to other plants is not per se considered an adverse effect on the environment. The risk assessment required for a Communtity authorization of GMOs includes the examination whether such a transfer may result in adverse effects on the environment.

The possibility of cross contamination by accidental physical mixing is also a concern. In order to respond to this, the Commission is considering, inter alia, the introduction of a system of traceability into the provisions of Directive 90/220/EEC, and will also take this into account for the aforesaid standards for purity concerning the presence of genetically modified seeds. Until such time, the authorities of the Member States, under their general obligation to monitor compliance with Community law, have to assess the risk of the possible presence of unauthorised genetically modified material and, in case of suspicion, to carry out appropriate testing to intercept contaminated lots and prevent them from being marketed and used.

(1) OJ L 117, 8.5.1990.