No GM Here!

Welsh Councils Urged to Pass GM Free Policies

The Farmers Union of Wales, the National Federation of Women's Institutes - Wales, GM Free Cymru and Friends of the Earth Cymru have called on local authorities in Wales to declare themselves GM-Free [1].

The groups have sent a briefing [2] to all local authorities and National Park authorities explaining the steps they can take and calling on them to pass "GM-Free area" resolutions.

Actions which authorities in Wales can take include:

• appealing to European Union for their areas to be exempted from any future GM consents [3];
• ensuring that their services (such as school meals and catering) are free of GM ingredients;
• ensuring that any land over which they have control is not used for the growing of GM crops.

A number of local authorities in Wales, including Pembrokeshire, Flintshire and Denbighshire have passed resolutions opposing the growth of GM crops, as well as a host of councils in England [4]. The groups are now hoping that all councils in Wales will join the growing movement across Europe for GM Free areas to be declared and protected.

Dr Brian John of GM Free Cymru commented:

"GM Crops are produced by using a unique technology that transfers DNA across the species barrier. They have introduced a major change into the human food chain. The effects on human health are as yet unknown. Until proper research, including full clinical trials, has been carried out, we cannot afford to gamble with the health of the Nation."

Gareth Vaughan, President of the FUW commented:

"The FUW has consistently campaigned for a GM free Wales, not only because we believe that insufficient research has been conducted on the long term effects of growing GM crops but also because consumers simply don't want these products.

"The union is keen to promote Wales' clean, green methods of food production. It's clear to us that our farmers will enjoy a marketing advantage by promoting our food as being GM-free - a status that will strike a chord with concerned consumers throughout the world."

Rhian Connick, Head of National Federation of Women's Institutes - Wales Office commented:

"In 1999 members of the WI voted overwhelmingly for a five year moratorium on the commercial growing and import of genetically engineered foods. This arose out of the WI members' concern that not enough was known about the impacts that the growing of GM crops would have on the environment or the effect of GM produce on human health.WI members have still to be assured that GM crops and food are safe and until proper research has been completed then Wales should remain GM free."

Julian Rosser, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru commented:

"Government at all levels has a responsibility to protect farmers, the public and our environment from unacceptable risks. Until we are given more evidence that GM crops and foods are safe we must do all that we can to stop them being grown in Wales. Local Councils in Wales have a crucial role to play in stopping GM planting on land they control. They should also be making the case to Whitehall and Europe for their areas to stay GM Free."

There is evidence to show that the public overwhelmingly reject GM crops and food [5]. The UK Government and National Assembly are due to make key decisions about the commercialisation of GM crops in the UK later this year [6]. The groups are hoping that pressure from local councils in Wales will strengthen the resolve of the Welsh Assembly to keep Wales GM Free.

Notes

[1] The Farmers Union of Wales, the National Federation of Women's Institutes - Wales, GM Free Cymru and Friends of the Earth Cymru have formed an alliance to campaign for a GM-free Welsh environment. This alliance is supported by Merched Y Wawr, The Organic Strategy Group, The Soil Association, Welsh Beekeepers Association, Welsh Black Cattle Society, The West Wales Ecocentre and Y Urdd.

[2] See: www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/ ¬
gm_free_wales_la_eng.pdf (PDF†)

[3] Local Authorities can use a new legal tool in Article 19 of the Deliberate Release Directive (Directive 2001/18/EC). Each type of GM crop requires its own Part C (marketing) Consent. Under the Directive, Local Authorities can examine each proposed Part C consent, and write to the UK Government to seek "geographical exemption" from that particular crop. Article 19(3)(c) of the Directive requires that any Part C consent must "[in all cases, explicitly specify] conditions for the protection of particular ecosystems/environments and/or geographical areas".

Reasons for exemption are strengthened when related to the environment or human health. This is especially so when they concern the specific character of that area, for example, the amount of land under organic management and the number of businesses engaged in local/value-added food production.

Other specifically local concerns include: the number and size of designated habitats; the number of beekeepers; the presence of wild relatives of GM crops; the terms of any local sustainability or community plans; the objectives of any local biodiversity action plan; the number of farmers who produce their own farm-saved seeds; the location of National Parks, SSSIs or other specially protected areas; the value of the natural environment and organic agriculture to the local tourist industry; an the presence of rare species in the habitat.

[4] Flintshire, Pembrokeshire, Cornwall, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, South Hams, Devon, Dorset, Lancashire, Penwith, West Dorset, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Cumbria, York City, East Riding of Yorkshire, Ryedale and the Lake District National Park have already taken action. For more information see: www.gmfreebritain.com/.

[5] According to a Welsh Consumer Council poll published in August 2003 there is widespread public distrust of GM technology. Results included (with the "don't knows" cut out):

I am happy to buy food containing GM ingredients for myself and my family:
34% agreed; 66% disagreed
Foods containing GM ingredients should be banned from sale in the UK:
56% agreed; 44% disagreed
I am worried about the environmental impacts of growing GM crops in the UK:
72% agreed; 28% disagreed
www.wales-consumer.org.uk/englishsite/ ¬
press_pubs/pubs1eng1.htm

[6] The first GM seed, ChardonLL, is approaching addition to the UK "National List" of available seed varieties. The decision to add the seed to the list must be made jointly by the UK Government and the devolved administrations, including the Welsh Assembly.
www.foe.co.uk/cymru/english/press_releases/ ¬
2003/pants_to_gm.html
The UK Government's "public debate" into GM is due to report in September and the analysis of the "Farm Scale Evaluations" into GM herbicide resistant GM crops will be ready in the autumn. Decisions on the listing of ChardonLL look set to be made within the next few months.

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