Government launches GM debate

3 June 2003

The Government's controversial national debate on GM crops began on Tuesday 3 June. Although the Government says it will take account of the debate's outcomes when making future policy decisions on GM issues, but recent Government comments give Friends of the Earth grave concerns that the debate may just be for show.

Environment Minister Michael Meacher said recently that GM crops may be given commercial approval even if the public opinion continues to be opposed. A decision on commercialisation is expected shortly after the debate's conclusions are published in September.

The debate, GM Nation, takes place through June and July and will be built round six regional conferences. Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to make it clear that GM crop commercialisation will not take place against the wishes of the public. Friends of the Earth is urging the public to use the debate to make it clear that they oppose commercialisation. The regional debates were:

Birmingham, NEC, June 3, 3-5pm

Swansea, Brangwyn Hall, June 5, 6-8pm

Taunton, Holiday Inn, June 7, 2-4pm

Belfast, King's Hall, Belfast June 9, 6-8pm

Glasgow, Glasgow Quality Hotel June 11, 6-8pm

Harrogate, Pavilions (Yorkshire Showground) June 13, 2-4pm

The Government's neutral stance on GM issues was brought into question by reports that Ministers want to "kill off plans by Brussels to bring in a comprehensive regime for labelling genetically modified foods." Leaked cabinet papers revealed that the Government fears "negative fallout" from Washington if they back European plans to tighten GM food labels aimed at allowing consumers to choose whether or not to eat GM food.

Public opposition to GM food and crops remains high. In October 2002, an NOP survey revealed that 57 per cent did not want the Government to allow GM crops to be commercially grown across the UK. The previous month a poll for the Grocer found that 58 per cent would avoid products containing GM ingredients. And in April 2003, a MORI poll showed that 56 per cent opposed GM food, compared to a paltry one in seven (14 per cent) who support it.

Local authorities and the Welsh National Assembly have also raised objections to GM as a result of concerns over potential impacts on health, the environment and the livelihoods of farmers and bee-keepers. Wales, Devon, Dorset, Lancashire, Cornwall, Warwickshire and South Gloucestershire have all taken action to go GM-free. This includes taking steps to stop tenant farmers growing GM crops, and banning GM food from local food services such as school meals and residential homes. Some authorities have also pledged to write to the Government and Brussels applying, under new European laws, to be excluded from growing certain GM crops. The actions result from Friends of the Earth's GM-Free Britain campaign which was launched last year. See www.gmfreebritain.com

"People should take this opportunity to tell the Government they do not want GM food and that GM crops must not be commercially grown in the UK," said Friends of the Earth GM campaigner, Pete Riley. "These crops potentially pose a long-term threat to our food, farming and the environment. But the Government must also make it clear that this debate is more than a PR exercise by promising to refuse to allow GM crops to be commercially grown if that's what the public want."

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