English GM test contamination shows Assembly is right to keep GM crops out of Wales

Friends of the Earth Cymru has said that today's admission of contamination in the UK Government's trials of genetically modified (GM) oilseed rape in England and Scotland vindicates the Welsh Assembly's stance against the crops. There are no GM trials in Wales to go wrong in this way.

A press release [1] issued today by the UK Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs reveals that up to 2.8% of the GM oilseed rape being tested at 14 sites in England and Scotland has been contaminated by seeds which are modified to be resistant to antibiotics. Planting of these seeds is not allowed under consents to release the main crop.

The National Assembly for Wales demands a strict safety assurances before GM oilseed rape can be grown in Wales. The Assembly policy on this, drafted by Friends of the Earth Cymru [2], is a key reason that the crop is not being grown in Wales.

Julian Rosser, Head of Campaigns at Friends of the Earth Cymru commented:

"Thank goodness the Assembly has a strong policy against GM crops. These tests are supposed to reassure the public about GM plants. What they have told us is that we can't trust the biotech companies to produce pure seeds and we can't trust the regulators to keep an eye on them. This has only happened at a few sites so far. What would happen if these crops were being grown on a commercial scale?

"Government bodies are supposed to be there to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen. Unfortunately, it looks like they couldn't organise a sneezing competition in a oilseed rape field full of hay fever sufferers."

The group has expressed concern that pressure is mounting on Assembly Agriculture Minister Mike German to approve commercialisation of a GM maize by the end of the year [3]. Once the crop has approval for sale in the UK it will become more difficult to stop it being planted in Wales in the future.

Julian Rosser continued:

"Wales has no GM crops being grown in Wales this year, but if the Assembly buckles under Whitehall pressure then commercial planting could start next year or the year after. Mike German very clearly opposed the commercialisation of GM crops while he was in opposition; we very much hope that Mike the Minister will hold that line."

[1] DEFRA Press Release.

[2] The policy was passed unanimously by the Assembly on 24 May 2000. It lays out a clear test before releases of experimental GM crops will be allowed by the Assembly. The GM maize ChardonLL planted in Flintshire in 2000 and 2001 is not deemed "experimental" and hence did not have to pass the test.

[3] The GM Maize ChardonLL has been the subject of an investigation into whether it should be allowed onto the UK National List of Varieties (the list of seeds which may legally be sold in the UK). That investigation is due to report to Ministers in the next few months. The seed cannot be added to the List without the approval of Ministers from the three devolved UK authorities in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.