WRITTEN QUESTION E-2086/00 by Eija-Riitta Korhola (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Testing GM crops in Member States.
Date: 2000-06-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, food inspection, food safety, transgenic plant

C 103 E/58

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

(2001/C 103 E/060)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2084/00

by Eija-Riitta Korhola (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 June 2000)

Subject: Commission(cid:146)s guidelines for the testing and assessment of the safety of GM crops

Has the Commission itself, or working together with Member States, developed a set of guidelines for the
testing and assessment of the safety of GM crops, and their impact on human health?

If so:

1. where can this be obtained, and

2.

is it available for consumers on a website? If these guidelines exist, how are they enforced?

(2001/C 103 E/061)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2086/00

by Eija-Riitta Korhola (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 June 2000)

Subject: Testing GM crops in Member States

To what extent do the current national systems (implemented in Member States) test GM crops for their
impact on human health in the following fields (including the ways in which such impact may be the same
as or different from that of non-GM crops and foodstuffs):

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

the change (and difference)
foodstuffs compared with their non-modified analogues

in the nutritional and non-nutritional components of GM crops and

the potential allergic impact of GM crops and foodstuffs on protein-sensitive individuals (such as those
allergic to nuts), including cross-reactivity of potential protein allergens

the effect of GM crops and foodstuffs on the foetus

the effect of GM crops and foodstuffs on tumour initiation, growth and proliferation

the effect of GM crops and foodstuffs on the immune system, including the impact of GM food
antigens, their impact on the survival and uptake of specific proteins such as proteinase inhibitors, and
on leucocyte profile and functional efficiency

the effect of GM crops and foodstuffs on the intestinal system, including protein and glycoprotein
tract and the ecological balance of
synthesis, the microbial organisms present
intestinal microbial flora?

in the intestinal

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2083/00, E-2084/00 and E-2086/00
given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(3 October 2000)

Genetically modified (GM) plants or products derived therefrom,
if intended for use as foods or food
ingredients are subject to the novel food Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the Parliament and of
the Council of 27 January 1997 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients (1)).

3.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/59

The Commission has provided guidelines for the presentation and assessment of applications under the
novel food Regulation (Commission Recommendation 618/97/EC concerning the scientific aspects and
presentation of information necessary to support applications for the placing on the market of novel foods
and novel food ingredients and the preparation of initial assessment reports under Regulation (EC) No 258/
97 of the Parliament and of the Council) (2).

The assessment of novel foods and novel food ingredients has to be done on a case-by-case basis. The
initial assessment is carried out by a Member State(cid:146)s food assessment body. The Commission and the other
Member States have 60 days to comment on, or to raise objections to, this initial assessment report. In
case of objections, the Commission consults the scientific committee for food (SCF). All opinions of the
SCF are published on the internet. The Commission intends to ensure that, in the future, assessments to
which no objections have been raised, and thus no SCF opinion has been sought, will also be made
available on the internet.

The Commission(cid:146)s Joint Research Centre (JRC) is currently conducting a study, (3) which aims at collecting
and analysing information about the consumption of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or products
derived from GMOs in the short and long term perspective. This report is due to be finished in early 2001
and its results may provide additional information of reference to the matter.

(1) OJ L 43, 14.2.1997.
(2) OJ L 253, 16.9.1997.
(3)

(cid:145)Impact of GMOs on Human Health and the Environment: Mapping of risks(cid:146) coordinated by IPTS-Seville.

(2001/C 103 E/062)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2088/00

by Gorka Kn(cid:246)rr Borr(cid:224)s (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Persons with disabilities and air travel

(28 June 2000)

Under Article 13 of the EC Treaty, action against discrimination may take on a Community-wide
dimension. The integrated package of anti-discrimination measures adopted by the Commission on
25 November 1999 does not include any concrete measures to counter the discrimination suffered by
persons with disabilities when travelling by air. The same may be said of the proposal for a Council
decision establishing a Community action programme to combat discrimination (2001-2006) COM/99/
0567. The Commission communication entitled (cid:145)Towards a Barrier Free Europe for People with Disabil-
ities(cid:146) (COM 2000/284) deals with this problem only in a vague fashion: it admits the present absence of
adapted services and facilities at airports, as well as the problem of frequent refusals to allow persons with
disabilities to board. The Commission undertakes to (cid:145)consider the action needed as part of the policy it
intends to develop on air passenger rights, including promoting good practice(cid:146).

What concrete measures does the Commission intend to take in this connection? Does it not believe that
an enormous legal vacuum exists at Community level on this issue? What Community-funded projects are
currently being planned or organised in Europe in the air transport sector in order to improve access?
Finally, can the Commission provide information on the projects concerning air transport that have been
carried out within the Fifth Framework Programme for Research under the action line for research relating
to persons with disabilities?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(13 September 2000)

As stated in the communication entitled (cid:145)Towards a barrier-free Europe for people with disabilities(cid:146) referred
to by the Honourable Member, the Commission adopted a communication on the protection of air
passengers on 21 June 2000 (1) in which, while again pointing out that air transport is somewhat ahead of