WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2286/97 by Patricia McKENNA to the Commission. Genetically modified colza
Date: 1997-07-02
Institutions: European Parliament, MCKENNA
Subjects: environmental protection, food inspection, foodstuffs legislation, genetically modified organism, herbicide, impact study, marketing, oil seed rape, public health, seed













EUR-Lex - 91997E2286 - EN






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91997E2286

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2286/97 by Patricia McKENNA to the Commission. Genetically modified colza  


Official Journal C 082 , 17/03/1998 P. 0051 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2286/97 by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission (2 July 1997)Subject: Genetically modified colzaOn Monday June 9 the Commission approved a genetically modified herbicide-resistant colza for market release. The herbicide-resistant colza was manufactured by the Belgian company Plant Genetic System.What studies, if any, were carried out on behalf of the Commission to assess the health and environmental consequences of releasing this genetically modified organism? On what grounds did the Commission decide not to follow the precautionary principle in this case?Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (18 September 1997)On 6 June 1997 the Commission adopted two decisions concerning the placing on the market of genetically modified hybrid swede rape seeds notified by the company Plant Genetic Systems (PGS) ((OJ L 164, 21.6.1997. )).Following the adoption of these decisions, consents will be granted by France allowing the placing on the market of these products so that they can be used like any other traditionally bred swede rape. The placing on the market of food and food ingredients containing, consisting of or derived from the genetically modified organisms in question falls under Regulation (EC) No 258/97 on novel food and novel food ingredients ((OJ L 43, 14.2.1997. )).In line with the precautionary principle on which Directive 90/220/EEC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms ((OJ L 117, 8.5.1990. )) is based, the applicant provided all the necessary data and information to assess the potential impact on human health and the environment of the release of the products in question. The dossier submitted included studies on the seed germination ability of the transgenic B94-2 oilseed rape line, the response of transgenic spring oilseed rape lines to agronomic inputs, monitoring residual effects in previous transgenic oilseed rape field trials, detailed observations of insects foraging transgenic PGS oilseed rape plants, an oilseed rape seed digestion experiment, the oilseed rape seed quality analysis of B94-2, a detailed oil and cake characterization of a benchtop processed transgenic oilseed rape hybrid, the detailed oilseed rape seed analysis of transgenic and non-transgenic oilseed rape, a phospho amino transfers (PAT) essay carried out on oilfree transgenic oilseed rape seeds, and the consumption of honey produced by honey bees foraging on transgenic oilseed rape.The two decisions were adopted following a favourable opinion by qualified majority from the regulatory committee established under Directive 90/220/EEC.