WRITTEN QUESTION P-3438/00 by Minerva Malliori (PSE) to the Commission. Genetically modified organisms.
Date: 2000-10-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, United States, competence of the Member States, food inspection, foodstuff, import (EU), maize, transgenic plant

C 151 E/172

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

Community fisheries legislation already includes a ban on the use of drift nets, a prohibition on encircling
mammals with the purpose of catching tuna and a prohibition on fishing for sandeels in areas where they
constitute a major food item for marine life.

The Commission considers that a dolphin-free fishery might be an unrealistic goal in several fisheries,
while a dolphin-safe fishery could be an objective to be firmly pursued. To this end, the Commission has
asked its scientific, technical and economic committee for fisheries to convene a meeting in 2001 on the
issue of incidental catches of small cetaceans. The Commission has also requested from the International
council for the exploration of the sea as soon as possible during 2001 an overview of fisheries that have
impact on small cetaceans, an assessment of the risks created by fisheries on identified
significant
populations and advice on possible remedial actions to reduce the impact of fishing.

(1) Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora

(OJ L 206, 22.7.1992).

(2001/C 151 E/197)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3438/00

by Minerva Malliori (PSE) to the Commission

(30 October 2000)

Subject: Genetically modified organisms

Public opinion was very alarmed by the recent discovery of genetically modified maize in food which is
freely available for sale in the USA (Kellogg(cid:146)s and Taco Bell products): it is banned for human consumption
owing to the fact that it produces an insecticide substance to protect the crop. Moreover, the cultivation
and marketing of such products are banned in many EU countries.

In view of this, will the Commission say whether the products in question are being imported into EU
countries and, if so, which countries? Are spot checks being carried out on imported products and how
effective are they? Does it intend to make the labelling of such products compulsory and to draw up a
code of conduct to be respected by companies in the interests of consumers?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(11 December 2000)

The question concerns the recent discovery of some food products in the United States containing traces of
the genetically modified maize variety called (cid:145)Star Link(cid:146). Star Link maize has been approved by the
American Environmental protection agency (EPA) for industrial and feed use, but not for use in food for
human consumption because of uncertainties regarding its potential allergenicity.

Star Link maize has not been approved for cultivation or food use in the Community and foodstuffs
containing traces of Star Link maize can therefore not be legally imported into the Community. Member
States are responsible for the control and inspection of
including imported food. The
Commission has not received any information from Member States suggesting that traces of Star Link
maize have been found in imported products.

foodstuffs,

Labelling requirements apply to genetically modified (GM) foodstuffs, which have been approved for
marketing in accordance with the Regulation (EC) No 258/97 of the Parliament and of the Council of
27 January 1997 concerning novel foods and novel food ingredients (1). The Commission does not
consider it appropriate to label products which have not obtained Community approval.

(1) OJ L 43, 14.2.1997.