Scarecrows across Wales demand GM-free fields

9 November 2004

Anti-GM scarecrows left their fields to support local actions across the country and help protect local food and farming from GM contamination.

At a recent event at the Welsh Assembly, campaigners joined members of the Farmers' Union of Wales, the Women's Institute and Assembly Members to call for a close watch on the GM regulations.

Anti-GM campaigners around Wales are calling on MPs and Assembly Members to back tough laws to keep Welsh food and fields GM-free.

Keep our fields GM-free

The challenge is for local MPs and AMs to support tough new laws preventing GM contamination. The UK and Assembly Governments are preparing to consult over GM crop "coexistence" with traditional crops.

Threat of GM planting

Whilst there are no GM crops currently being grown in the UK, the threat of GM planting remains. There are at least 10 applications to grow GM crops awaiting approval in Europe. If given the go ahead, farmers could start planting them in the UK.

Friends of the Earth Cymru Director Julian Rosser commented:

Unfortunately, the UK Government is planning to allow widespread GM pollution of our food crops. This is totally unacceptable. We are challenging the Assembly to pass tougher legislation in Wales and we hope they will do everything they can to prevent the Government threatening our right to choose GM free food.

Friends of the Earth Cymru believes that Wales should stay GM free but says that if the Government makes the mistake of allowing GM crops to be grown, tough rules must be put in place that ensure no GM contamination of non-GM crops in neighbouring fields.

Resource

Stop GM Contamination
(PDF format)

†To view PDF files you will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Visually impaired users can get extra help with these documents from access.adobe.com.

Image Lyndsey Maiden/Cardiff Friends of the Earth