Views on GMO sought

THE Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has invited observations from the public on the impact of placing genetically modified organisms on the market for cultivation.

Information received will be used to formulate a report from Ireland to the European Commission on this subject.

Comments should be submitted by email to [e-mail] or by post to the Environment Policy Section, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Custom House, Dublin 1. Next Wednesday is the closing date for submissions.

Responses are expected from a wide range of interested parties, including farmers, beekeepers, seed producers, plant breeders, seed multiplying companies, seed distributors, consumers, grain handling companies and co-ops, the food and feed industry, transport companies, insurance companies, laboratories, the innovation and research sectors, public administration, and economists. A questionnaire is provided for respondents (see www.environ.ie/en/Publications/Environment/Miscellaneous/FileDownLoad,22256,en.doc) to facilitate commentary. However, respondents can also include their observations on additional topics they consider relevant.

EU legislation provides for assessment of the socio-economic implications of placing GMOs on the market. The European Commission has now deemed it an appropriate time to carry out such an assessment, particularly because cultivation of GMOs has been raised by several member states recently.