Cornwall goes GM-free1 April 2003
Cornwall County Council voted on 1 April to go GM-free, joining a growing protest against GM crops at local authority level across the country. Pressure to go GM-free is particularly strong in the south-west of England with South Gloucestershire and South Hams District Council voting to go GM-free in February this year. Devon County Council has stated its opposition to GM trials, and called on the South West Regional Assembly to take a position on GM. North Radstock Town Council also voted to go GM-free in December 2002.
In a full meeting, Cornwall County Council voted to keep the county of Cornwall free of GM crops and GM food and feed, and to call on the Secretary of State to provide legal protection for this county as a GM-free area, under European law. Under this law, councils can request legal protection of their areas from particular GM crops. Friends of the Earth GM Coordinator in the South West, Keith Hatch said: "This is fantastic news for people in Cornwall and in the whole of the south-west. The public have made it clear they do not want GM crops in Cornwall, or anywhere else in the region. The Regional Assembly must now act to protect the area as a whole."
"Friends of the Earth is delighted that Cornwall County Council has voted to go GM-free," said Friends of the Earth GM Campaigner, Clare Oxborrow. "Around Britain there is growing opposition to GM crops and food. Cornwall's decision sends a strong message to the Government that local people don't want their food, farms and environment threatened by GM crops. It is time now for the Government to listen and not allow GM crops to be grown for sale in the UK."
Calls for GM-free areas are also being considered in other parts of Britain. The Lake District National Park Authority announced that it will hold a major conference with other National Parks Authorities to consider becoming GM-free. And the National Assembly for Wales is maintaining its GM-free stance. The Government is expected to decide later this year whether or not to allow GM crops to be commercially grown across the UK. Commercialisation risks widespread GM contamination of food, crops and the environment. An NOP survey published in October showed that 57 per cent do not want GM crops to be commercially grown across the UK.
Get these updates first
If you would like these news updates to be emailed to you as soon as they come out, then join our real food mailing list.
Register Here
More news >
