241 Mr. Dennehy asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will consider introducing specific measures to prevent the sale of formula milk which has been genetically modified; and if he will make a statement on the regulation of the sale of genetically modified food. [4373/02]

Infant formulae contain protein from either cows' milk or soybean. There are no cows' milk proteins that have been genetically modified. Soya infant formulae are designed for babies with an intolerance to cows' milk and contain soybean-derived material. Ireland imports all of its soybean products and, due to the growing of GM soybeans in many soybean producing countries, the presence of GM soybeans among non-GM soybeans is a possibility.

Only GM ingredients that have been authorised by the EU can be marketed in member states. In the case of soya, only one variety of soybean called Roundup Ready is authorised for use in food. Specific labelling applies to food and food ingredients with a GM content. The result is that a food or a food ingredient, for example, soya, having a GM content greater than 1% must be labelled to indicate that it contains, or is made from a GMO. When an ingredient has a GM content of 1% or less then the operator must be able to show that the food was obtained from a non-GM source so that the GM presence is then considered as an unavoidable contaminant.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland, FSAI, is the competent authority in Ireland charged with enforcing the novel foods regulations under which GM foods currently fall. The FSAI carries out surveys of the Irish food supply to satisfy itself that regulations governing the sale in Ireland of GM foods are adhered to. In a recent survey of soya-based foods, including infant formulae, the FSAI analysed the three leading brands of soya infant formulae and found that they contained GM soya which are at EU authorised levels significantly below the 1% that triggers mandatory GM labelling.