Carwyn's GM announcement - "faltering step in the right direction" says Friends of the Earth Cymru

Friends of the Earth (FOE) Cymru today described Welsh Agriculture Minister Carwyn Jones' announcement that the Welsh Assembly will set up "buffer zones" around genetically modified crops as a "step in the right direction". However, the group has accused the Minister of avoiding the main issue of allowing the crops to be planted at all.

The plans to introduce "statutory separation distances" between genetically modified ChardonLL maize, produced by the Biotech company Aventis, and other crops were announced today (15 May 2001) [1]. This is the first time that a UK regulator has used its powers against GM crops. The action will have no effect on the one remaining Welsh GM trial at Sealand, Flintshire.

FOE Cymru believes that Minister's plan, although welcome, is flawed on two counts:

• It avoids the main issue: that GM crops should not be grown in Wales at all until they can be proved to be safe; a stance supported by Assembly Members, farmers, environmental groups and the Welsh public.
• The separation distances set by the Assembly are too low, based on flawed science and will not protect conventional or organic crops in Wales from GM contamination.

The scientific advice relied on by Carwyn Jones in deciding he had no power to prevent growing of the GM maize in Wales [2] has been called into question by Professor Jean Emberlin of the National Pollen Research Unit at University College Worcester. She points out that the levels of GM contamination from cross-pollination is likely to be much greater than that suggested by Government advisers [3].

Julian Rosser, Head of Campaigns for FOE Cymru commented:
"It is great news that the Assembly is finally starting to use some of its powers when it comes to GM crops. Unfortunately, this is nowhere near enough action to protect our farmers or our environment. When the trials in Wales were first announced Carwyn Jones came out fighting like a tiger - it's a pity he can't show that resolve now.

Julian Rosser continued,
"Sound science demands that these crops should not be planted in the open air until we can be sure that it is safe. We have given the Assembly the evidence it needs to fight the planting of this crop in Wales. A buffer zone is welcome, and it could help, but it is not the strong action that the people of Wales demand.

"The next step the Assembly should take is to extend these buffer zones to meet the standards of modern science rather than the flawed advice being given to the Government."

Notes

1. National Assembly for Wales Press Release, 15 May 2001.
2. Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment, Advice for the National Assembly for Wales, 1 May 2001.
3. Prof. Emberlin points out that, at a distance of 200m (the distance being proposed by the Assembly) , the most comprehensive study available on maize cross pollination between GM and non-GM plants indicates that contamination above 1% can occur. She concludes that cross-pollination above 0.1% is a typical rather than exceptional occurrence. Retailers, who want to market GM-Free products, are working to a maximum contamination of 0.1%. The Soil Association demands that there be no GM contamination for crops to be deemed organic - it wants separation distances of six miles. [Prof Jean Emberlin, An assessment of outcrossing in maize, relevant to the proposed decision to add GM maize variety ChardonLL to the National List, October 2000.]