Meacher refuses to halt GM crop trials

5 November 1999

It is business as usual for the Government after Michael Meacher announced that he was extending the voluntary agreement for genetically modified (GM) crops with the biotech industry body SCIMAC.

Friends of the Earth is "bitterly disappointed" by this agreement as the Government's 'deal' falls far short of the measures needed to protect the environment from GM pollution or inspire public confidence in the Government's handling of this issue.

Meacher's so-called 'deal' will allow the discredited farm-scale trials to continue - and on a massively increased scale - with inadequate protection from the risks that they pose to neighbouring farmers and the environment. The biotech companies will still be given commercial licences and are now certain that they have full legal permission to proceed with commercialisation of GM crops, whatever the outcome of the trials or the concerns of the public.

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