UPDATES FROM DEFRA AND DEVOLVED
ADMINISTRATIONS JUNE 2004
DEFRA
Applications
At present there are only 2 part B field trials - these are for GM peas and a
GM soil bacterium. There are also 2/3 potential clinical trials underway at present.
There are no new Part B applications. Details can be found on the Defra website
at
www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/regulation/registers.htm
A vote at 2001/18 Regulatory Committee on 16 June on GT73 oilseed rape.
No QMV was reached.
NK603 maize is to be voted on at Environment Council 28-29 June.
[AEBC secretariat: environment ministers failed to agree and the final decision
will go to the European Commission]
The UK Competent Authority wrote to the European Commission and issued a related
press notice on 15 June explaining why amendments to two GM maize consents are no longer
necessary. In brief:
Since Bayer CropScience have withdrawn Chardon LL there is no possibility of any
commercial cultivation of T25 before its current marketing consent expires in 2006 and
hence an amendment to the T25 consent is no longer necessary.
Regarding Bt176 the French authorities have stated that this event is not intended
for use with the herbicide glufosinate ammonium, hence an amendment to the consent with
regard to herbicide use would not be appropriate. We will be consulting ACRE to review
whether any additional restrictions are required.
Co-existence
Defra is preparing a consultation paper on co-existence and compensation for
economic loss, in line with the approach to these issues set out in the Government's
policy statement of 9 March 2004. The consultation exercise will be launched as soon
as possible. In pursuing this initiative Defra is working closely with the authorities
in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Consultations
The period of consultation on the implementation of the new EU regulations on
traceability and labeling of GMOs and GM food and animal feed ended on 25 June. Penalties
and offences will be in place by the end of the summer.
A consultation on the implementation on new EU regulations on transboundary movements
of GMOs began on 24 May. Closing date for comments is 16 August.
ACRE
ACRE has established a subgroup to examine the wider issues raised as a result of the
farm scale evaluations of GM herbicide tolerant crops. The group will be holding an open
meeting in October to gather evidence on key issues.
Defra has let a contract to SCRI (FSE contractors) to monitor for the occurrence of
GM oilseed rape volunteers in subsequent oilseed rape crops at FSE sites. The report
of this project is expected at the end of 2005.
A project to draw on the findings of the FSEs and of other relevant work to design
protocols to simplify the assessment of the effect of crop production practices on farmland
wildlife is currently out to tender. Closing date for applications is Monday 19 July.
The project will begin in October 2004 with the final report due in 2006.
The science review identified a number of gaps in our knowledge and areas of uncertainty.
A list of these issues and a response including areas where Government has carried out or
intends to carry out research are detailed in Annex 2 of the Government response to the
GM dialogue http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/debate/index.htm.
One area of particular interest is soil ecology, Defra is carrying out a number of research
projects in this area which are listed below:
The final meeting of the Aarhus Convention's GMO Working Group looking at public
participation in GMO decisions is due in October. The UK continues to play an active and
constructive part in discussions to ensure the working group fulfils its mandate.
Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC)
FAWC will publish its Report on the Welfare Implications of Animal Breeding and Breeding
Technologies in Commercial Agriculture on 30 June. This will partially be a response to the
AEBC Animals and Biotechnology report but a separate document will be issued responding to
the AEBC’s recommendations.
Environmental Liability
Member States have until 30 April 2007 to transpose the provisions of the Environmental
Liability Directive into national law. Defra intends to consult stakeholders and more widely
in Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005 and summer 2006 on options, proposals and draft legislation
respectively.
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Consultation underway on administrative and enforcement arrangements for implementation
of EU Regulations on Traceability and Labelling and Food and Feed (in co-ordination with
Food Standards Agency Scotland). Closing date: 16 July 2004
Preparation of consultation on administrative and enforcement arrangements for implementation
of EU Regulations on Transboundary Movements of GMOs (Cartagena Protocol), to
be launched shortly.
Development work underway on Coexistence, including literature review and initial meetings
with stakeholders. Formal consultation possibly autumn 2004.
NORTHERN IRELAND Department of the Environment in NI (Environmental Policy Group)
Consultation package on the administrative and enforcement arrangements for implementation of
EC Regulations on Traceability and Labelling of GMOs and GM Food and Feed issued 19 May
2004 with a closing date for responses of 16 August 2004 - this exercise was carried out jointly
by the Department of the Environment and FSANI.
Consultation package on the administrative and enforcement arrangements for implementation of
the EC Regulation on Transboundary Movement of GMOs (Cartagena Protocol) in preparation -
programmed for issue by end of July 2004.
Coexistence discussions underway on the formulation of a strategy for NI.
Meetings arranged with colleagues in Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) to
discuss how to take forward the cross departmental issues. Also meeting arranged in late August
with colleagues in the Republic of Ireland to get a co-ordinated approach on the cross
border issues.
Environmental liability Directive implementation -Northern Ireland, along with the
devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales, is represented at a Working Group led by the
Department of the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and including representatives
from other (Whitehall) government departments to take forward the legislative action required
to transpose the European Environmental Liability Directive into UK legislation by
April 2007.
Detailed plans for the legislative process are currently being drawn up. These will include
time for full public consultations, including stakeholder events. While dates have not yet
been finalised it is anticipated that the first consultation will take place in the early
part of 2005, with a second round in late 2005/early 2006
WELSH ASSEMBLY
A Joint consultation is underway with Food Standards Agency Wales on arrangements for
implementing and enforcing EC Regulations 1829/2003 covering GM Food and Feed and 1830/2003
covering Traceablility and Labelling of GMOs. Consultation packs were issued at the end of
April 2004 and closing date for responses is 28 June.
The Assembly is preparing to launch a consultation on EC Regulation 1946/2003 on the
Transboundary Movements of GMOs on or around 9 July 2004. Closing date for responses is
expected to be around 1 October 2004.
A consultation paper to examine coexistence between different forms of agriculture in Wales
is being prepared. It is planned to issue the paper during autumn 2004.
