GM Bill clears first stage23 January 2004
The GM Contamination and Liability Bill has been adopted by Gregory Barker MP. Mr Barker is the MP for Bexhill and Battle, and is the Conservative Party Whip.
The Bill has now been renamed by the House of Commons to the 'Genetically Modified Organisms Bill', but it still contains the same rules for which we have been campaigning.
Our new briefing Why we need a GM contamination and liability Bill now (PDF†) explains why we need new laws to prevent GM crops contaminating the countryside and food chain, and to ensure biotech companies pay for any harm they may cause.
The Second Reading of the Bill will take place on 26th March, when the Bill gets its first debate. Parliament will decide whether to support the main principles, and if it succeeds it can go on to the Committee stage where the details of the Bill will be considered.
Take action
The most effective way to make sure this happens is for thousands of people to put pressure on the Government by writing to their MPs.
- Ask your MP to support the Genetically Modified Organisms Bill by signing EDM 462
- If they have concerns about the detail of the legislation, stress that you hope they will support it receiving a full and proper debate in Parliament, by doing all they can to ensure it reaches Committee Stage. At the very least, ask them to assure you they will not obstruct the Bill.
- Ask your MP to write a letter to both the DEFRA and DTI ministers, expressing support for the Bills and their full and proper debate.
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 >
†To view PDF files you will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Visually impaired users can get extra help with these documents from access.adobe.com.
Images: © Friends of the Earth, Nick Cobbing/Friends of the Earth
