GM maize food "illegal" says Friends of the Earth

The Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) will appear before the National Assembly for Wales this morning to give evidence on the safety of foods produced from GM 'T25' maize. This is part of the Assembly's decision on whether or not to allow the first GM maize variety onto the market. However, a report submitted by Friends of the Earth (FOE) to Ministers yesterday shows that, in FOE's opinion, food from T25 maize has been marketed illegally.

The T25 maize foods were allowed onto the market in 1998 under a special fast-track procedure without the need for a safety assessment under the EU Law [1]. This fast-track procedure only applies to foods which do not contain genetically modified DNA.

However, the ACNFP gave its clearance without having any evidence of whether DNA was present in the food. Two similar maize foods considered by the ACNFP have since been rejected for the fast-track procedure because they did contain DNA

Raoul Bhambral, GM Campaigner for FOE Cymru, commented:

" This whole process appears to us to be a stitch-up by civil servants and Government advisers. They suggest everything is wonderful and 'safe' yet their own procedures are seriously flawed. The approval process for GM foods has to be above suspicion, otherwise the public will never swallow it. The Assembly cannot allow this GM maize seed to go onto the market until this is sorted out.

" We've already provided Counsel's opinion to the Assembly showing them how they can legally refuse to List the seed. We very much hope that it will take this opportunity and speak up for the wishes of the people of Wales rather than Big Business.

" This issue is of particular relevance when you consider that the Assembly is talking about a fodder maize which will be fed to our animals. We have to learn that we cannot feed our animals untested and unregulated feed. "

Notes

[1] EU Novel Food Regulation (258/97)