WRITTEN QUESTION E-1489/00

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 May 2000)

Subject: Acceptability of the production and sale of fast-growing giant salmon for human consumption

1. On 20 April 2000 the Dutch newspaper Trouw reported that the American firm AF Protein has been working for years on using genetically manipulated hormones to produce salmon that grow ten times as fast and to five times the weight of the natural species and that these salmon are the first transgenic animals intended for human consumption. Is the Commission familiar with this development?

2. Is the Commission aware that AF Protein intends to market these salmon from the end of 2000?

3. Does the Commission agree with the experts quoted in the above newspaper article that other firms abandoned such plans five years ago, that fish are already the fastest growing species, that problems similar to those in intensive pig and poultry farming may arise, that there is no need to breed larger fish, that the vast majority of consumers feel no need of products of this kind, that there is a lot of opposition in Scotland to this method of breeding salmon and that it amounts to nothing more than an attempt to eliminate the competition with poorer quality but cheaper products?

4. Does the Commission agree with me that the existence of fish of this kind is undesirable just on the grounds of protecting the natural environment against newcomers with unknown characteristics, not only because they may escape if they are bred in waters that communicate directly with seas, lakes or rivers, as in the United States, and as a result of human error or sabotage, and that they should therefore be prohibited, not least under the GMO directive 90/220(1)?

5. On what grounds can the firm concerned have come to the conclusion that such fish are allowed on the European consumer market under current European and/or national legislation?

6. How does the Commission intend to prevent this product from going on sale?

(1) OJ L 117, 8.5.1990, p. 15.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(28 July 2000)

1. The Commission is aware there are several press articles dealing with genetically modified salmon. Apparently the development of fast growing salmon has reached a state where commercial use appears feasible.

2. For human consumption, such fish and the products derived from them would be subject to Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 1997 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients(1). This fish would require a full assessment that takes at least several months. As an application has not yet been submitted such fish would not be authorised this year.

3. The Commission knows that some years ago several organisations and companies in Europe expressed strong views against using genetic engineering in fish breeding.

4. The problems of protecting the natural environment mentioned by the Honourable Member are not related to novel food.

Council Directive 90/220/EEC of 23 April 1990, on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms covers both experimental and commercial releases of genetically modified organisms and could include possible releases of genetically engineered salmon modified to express growth hormone. Applications for such releases require, as a pre-requisite, an assessment of risks to human health and the environment, and are considered on a case-by-case basis. An authorisation is 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.

To date, there have been no applications for commercial releases of genetically modified salmon under Directive 90/220/EEC and no consents for such have been granted. Similarly, the Commission has received no summary notifications from Member States with respect to experimental releases of genetically modified salmon under the Directive.

5. All foods and food ingredients that consist of or contain genetically modified organisms, as well as foodstuffs derived from them which no longer contain genetically modified organisms, are subject to the novel food regulation unless they have been on the market in the Community to a significant degree before it entered into force. This regulation allows the placing on the market of a novel food only after authorisation has been granted.

6. If an application is made, a decision concerning the marketing of such fish will be taken in the light of the relevant legislation, in particular the novel food regulation.

(1) OJ L 43, 14.2.1997.