Morgan should stand up for a GM free Welsh environment

Friends of the Earth Cymru has urged Rhodri Morgan to demand a three year freeze on the growing of genetically modified (GM) crops across the UK following yesterday's announcement at the Johannesburg World Summit of a World Bank-funded initiative to review the use of GM foods and farming.

The initiative [1], aims to listen to the views of all sides on the impacts of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and other agricultural science. It is due to meet in Dublin in November and will run for a period of three years.

Friends of the Earth Cymru has campaigned since 1999 for a GM Free Welsh environment and welcomes any initiative that recognises the need for thorough scientific research on the potential environmental and health impact of GM crops.

Although there are no GM crops being grown in Wales in 2002 [2], the group is concerned that widespread planting of GM crops could begin in 2003 or 2004, before all health and environmental questions have been answered. There are particular fears that pressure is mounting on the Welsh Assembly to approve commercialisation before the end of this year [3].

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

"The announcement of this review shows that there are still many questions to be answered about the environmental and health impacts of GM crops. A UK wide moratorium should immediately come into force to strengthen the Assembly's hand in keeping GM crops out of our fields. By the time this review is finished GM could already have irreversibly contaminated our countryside."

Notes

[1] To be chaired by Robert Watson, former chair of the Inter-government Panel on Climate Change and Chief Scientific Advisor to the World Bank.

[2] Helped by strict Assembly policies drafted and campaigned for by Friends of the Earth Cymru.

[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.