Blair gives go ahead to GM

Yesterday Secretary of State Margaret Beckett made a long awaited statement on GM policy.

She announced that the Government is happy to go ahead with growing the GM maize Chardon LL, tested in the Farm Scale Evaluations (FSE) for commercial use. This is on condition that it is only grown in the same way as in the FSE and that no other weed killers are used. These conditions must be agreed with the EU before the maize can be grown in the UK .

The GM approval for the maize will expire in 2006. Before a renewal can be granted the Government wants to see new data comparing the GM weed control with the conventional controls that will replace atrazine and related weedkillers when they are banned in 2006.

The Government will not support the commercial growing of GM spring oilseed rape and beets.

The Government also announced that they will provide guidance for farmers on establishing voluntary GM free zones . Friends of the Earth believes that a voluntary scheme like this would be very difficult and costly to organise and would easily break down if any one farmer disagrees with it.

Finally Margaret Beckett indicated that the Government intends to consult about contamination thresholds in organic produce, coexistence of GM and non-GM crops and a compensation fund for contaminated farmers. The bio tech companies in the GM sector would fund this compensation scheme.

Friends of the Earth will continue to oppose the approval of GM maize because of continuing concerns about food and animal feed, environmental safety, the validity of the FSE results and the prevention of contamination of neighbouring crops.

Press for change

If you live in Wales you can tell your Assembly Member to stop GM going commercial.
Write to your MP and urge them to ask ministers how voluntary GM free zones will work if farmers refuse to sign up or change their minds about growing GM crops.