National Assembly set to block first GM seeds

Friends of the Earth has learnt of a potential constitutional row as the National Assembly for Wales considers whether to block the commercialisation of the first genetically modified seed in the UK. FOE are concerned that, once on the National List, there is nothing to stop the commercial growing of the crop, even though the Government's own farm scale trials have not proved their safety.

On Wednesday (March 1st), the Welsh Agriculture and Rural Development Committee is to discuss the placing of a GM seed on the National List - the final regulatory hurdle before seeds can be grown commercially [1]. The Committee will be considering a recommendation that a GM maize variety developed by Aventis (formerly AgrEvo) should be placed on the National List. All UK Agriculture Departments need to agree on what goes on the list, although it appears that, if a unanimous agreement is not reached, the decision could go to a higher level. This could mean that Nick Brown may give the go-ahead anyway, despite likely concerns by the majority of Assembly Members in the Committee [2].

Raoul Bhambral, FOE Cymru's GM Campaigner commented :

" The National Assembly will want to ensure that any decision they make is in the interest of the people of Wales. To allow the commercial growing of GM crops before proving they are safe for the environment and human health cannot possibly be in the public interest. We urge the Assembly to reject the proposal to put the GM maize on the National List and we have given them the information they need to do that."

Friends of the Earth Cymru has written to Welsh Agriculture Secretary Christine Gwyther and other committee members setting out the grounds on which they could refuse to accept the GM maize. These include:

• failure to test the safety of the maize for animal health [3],
• failure to complete important human food safety and environmental research [4], and
• possible problems with cross pollination of the GM variety to non-GM crops [5].

In Scotland, the Members of the Scottish Parliament's Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee will not be consulted at their meeting next week by Minister Ross Finnie; he will make the decision alone. In N.Ireland, the suspension of devolved government means that NI Office Minister Adam Ingram will make the decision.

Raoul Bhambral continued:

" We are in a fortunate position in Wales because this matter will be discussed by the Agriculture Committee. However, the final decision could lie with Christine Gwyther.

"In June last year the Assembly voted for Wales to take a lead in the control of the commercial growing of GM crops. This is the opportunity the Assembly have been waiting for - for them to proceed carefully on the issue of GM and put the people before the biotech companies. This maize is intended for animal feed although it hasn't been tested on them. The UK is struggling to emerge from one animal feed crisis; we should be very careful we don't plunge straight into another."

Notes

[1] During February, the Ministry for Agriculture Fisheries and Food, along with officials from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have been meeting to decide whether the GM Maize developed by Aventis (formerly AgrEvo) should be added to the National List. The recommendation of the civil servants has been sent to Nick Brown, Secretary of State for Agriculture Fisheries and Food, Christine Gwyther, Assembly Secretary for Agriculture, Ross Finnie, Scottish Minister for Rural Affairs and Adam Ingram, Minister for Agriculture in the Northern Ireland Office. The decisions on which new seeds to add to the National List are published monthly on the 28th of each month in the Plant Varieties and Seeds Gazette published by HMSO. Under the Seed Regulations 1982, people have a right to object to any variety being added to the National List.

[2] The majority of Assembly Members voted for a motion that Wales should lead in the control of GMOs and the commercial release of GM crops, 31 FOR : 0 AGAINST : 26 ABSTAIN

[3] At present the European union does not require an assessment of the safety of GM crops for animal feed. A Regulation covering this issue has been under discussion within the EU since at least 1994, but still nothing has emerged. Commissioner Byrne, responsible for health and consumer protection, has referred to the novel feeds proposal as "the missing link in Community legislation on GMOs."
Farm animals may consume a greater proportion of GM ingredients in their diet than humans. In the UK, maize makes up 30-50% of the diet of dairy cattle. The use of maize silage for beef cattle is also increasing as a cheaper alternative to grain. So there is a higher risk of gene transfer to bacteria in the intestines of cattle than humans.

[4] Government funded research into GM crops is incomplete. For example, this GM variety has been included in the farm scale trials, but these are not due for completion until 2003. There is also further unfinished MAFF research, such as :
Consequences for agriculture of the introduction of GM crops : due for completion March 2002.
Botanical and rotational implications of GM herbicide tolerance : due for completion March 2002.
Risk of gene transfer from genetically modified crop plants to gut bacteria : due for completion December 2001.

[5] The farm scale trials currently underway have not taken any measures to prevent the flow of genetic material from GM to non-GM crops (through cross pollination). The Government's own research has concluded that contamination of non-GM crops is 'inevitable'. This has implications for the livelihoods of farmers growing non-GM or organic crops and even those many farmers who are converting to organic farming as they may lose their markets if their produce is contaminated.