Reckless GM trials under attack31 January 2002
The Government has failed to increase the separation distances around the latest round of GM crop trials - announced today - despite an admission by Environment Minister, Margaret Beckett that the current distances may not prevent neighbouring crops from significant levels of GM pollution. Friends of the Earth believes that the separation distances for GM oil seed rape trials should be at least 5km. The separation distance between GM oil seed rape and conventional varieties is currently 50 metres.
"The separation distance around these GM crop trials are pathetic. If they go ahead neighbouring and organic crops within a 5 kilometres radius will be at risk from GM contamination," stormed Friends of the Earth GM Campaigner, Pete Riley. "The Government knows the separation distances are inadequate but has recklessly failed to act."
This week the Food Standards Agency admitted that 15 per cent of bakery products surveyed contained GM ingredients - none of them were labelled. Three samples were found to contain more than 1 per cent GM soya, such products are required to be labelled as containing GM under EC regulation. It is not known how the products came to be contaminated with GM material as most European food manufacturers now avoid GM ingredients in response to overwhelming consumer rejection of the new technology.
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