WRITTEN QUESTION E-1902/00 by Baroness Sarah Ludford (ELDR) to the Commission. GM seeds.
Date: 2000-06-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: common agricultural policy, seed, transgenic plant

3.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/33

(2001/C 103 E/035)

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 (cid:145)little risk(cid:146) 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(cid:146)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.

C 103 E/34

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

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.

(2001/C 103 E/036)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1909/00

by Mar(cid:237)a Izquierdo Rojo (PSE) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Allocation of funding under the EU Community Support Framework for improvements to the

secondary road network in the province of Granada

Given that the European Regional Development Fund is intended to rectify regional imbalances and reduce
differences in regional development, and that under Article 2 of the regulation concerned its scope of
application is defined thus, (cid:145)[to provide] improved access to rural areas (cid:133) investments in infrastructures
where modernisation or regeneration is a prerequisite for the creation or development of job-creating
including infrastructure and links on which the development of these activities
economic activities,
depends(cid:146), and, further,
(cid:145)the provision of infrastructure on a scale appropriate to local and employment
development(cid:146), can the Commission indicate whether the proposals submitted by the Spanish Government
for funding from the Structural Funds for the period 2000-2006 for improvements to the secondary road
network meet the above criteria?

If so, on the basis of the Spanish Government(cid:146)s proposals, what amount under the EU Community Support
Framework is likely to be allocated for improvements to the secondary road network in Granada?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2000)

The Commission is currently finalizing the Community support framework (CSF) 2000-2006 for the
objective 1 regions of Spain in partnership with the Spanish authorities. In this context the latter have
proposed that a significant priority be given to the main transport networks including road transport.
However, the position of the secondary road network is not one of the strategic issues under discussion for
the CSF. Rather, this matter will be dealt with at regional level in the context of the regional operational
programmes for which negotiations will begin shortly. Consequently it is not possible at the present stage
to identify the amount of structural funds allocated to the secondary road network in any given region or
province.

(2001/C 103 E/037)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1912/00

by Pasqualina Napoletano (PSE) and Giovanni Procacci (ELDR) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Restriction on the movement of European Union citizens on Cypriot territory

Last April a group of Italian citizens went to the Republic of Cyprus on a sightseeing and religious trip.
The programme was supposed to include visits to both the north and south parts of the island. Despite