FOE Briefing: First GM seeds to be Added to the National Seed List- How Citizens Can Object.

First GM seeds to be Added to the National Seed List- How Citizens Can Object.

Briefing Sheet

FIRST GM SEEDS TO BE ADDED TO NATIONAL SEED LIST
How citizens can object

Aventis , a large multinational company, have asked the Government to be allowed to market their genetically-modified (GM) maize seeds. This would make them the first GM crops that could be grown commercially in the UK,even though the Government's own research won't be completed for several years. A decision is expected IN FEBRUARY 2000. This briefing has been written to assist people to object and to stop the UK being Europe's open air laboratory for genetic engineering. This is your only opportunity to legally object. We CAN do it!
?What is the National Seed Listing?

How? By stopping the 'Seed Listing'!

Before a seed can be sold commercially, it must be put on the National Seed List. The Seed List is there to ensure that all seeds of one variety are sold under the same name, have been tested and are generally distinct from other varieties. The Seed List is maintained under the Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 1982 (SI 1982/844) and give citizens rights to object to new varieties.

How is a seed listed?
Oilseed Rape
A company that has developed a new seed must apply for a National Listing. To succeed, they must show that the variety is distinct, uniform and stable (DUS)and whether it has value for cultivation and use (VCU).

Once the Government proposes to place the seed on the Seed List, then it is advertised in the Plant Varieties and Seeds Gazette, a monthly journal from the Ministry of Agriculture (MAFF).

How can we object?

Once published in the Gazette, we have around 2 weeks to object. TIME IS CRITICAL! Not only are we,the public, allowed to object in writing, but we can also require a public hearing (~public inquiry).

Our rights don't stop at the hearing. Once the hearing is over, if the decision goes against us, we can object yet again and require a hearing before a Tribunal.

Although this sounds all very long-winded, it gives us the chance to question in public and potentially stop a particular seed, in this case the first GM seeds.

Who can object?

Anyone who would be “affected” by a seed listing can object. People who are “affected”, as defined in the Regulations, include:(a) “any person appearing to the Ministers to have a sufficient interest in the matter” or (b) “any person or organisation appearing to the Ministers to be representative of a class of persons likely to be affected by the decision.”

This not only includes environmental groups, but also individuals, farmers, people who eat foods made from ingredients that may be affected (eg margarine, bread, biscuits and vegetable cooking oil), and it could be argued, anyone who enjoys nature. In other words virtually everyone if they so wish!
Fill in and return this form (or email the address below) if you wish to pay to officially object to the listing of genetically modified maize and receive a briefing pack when the proposed decision is advertised.

Name    Telephone Number
Address
    Email:

The Real Food Campaign, FOE, 26-28 Underwood Street, London, N1 7JQ Email: foodbio@foe.co.uk
Grounds to object on

There are few grounds to object on the DUS (although arguments for a 'Stability' challenge are emerging), but the industry will have big problems in proving the VCU,ie the value to farming of genetically modified crops.

For the seed to be put on the National Seed List, it must show “a clear improvement either as regards crop farming or the use made of harvested crops or of products produced from those crops”.

In addition, Ministers can refuse the application if it appears to them that “the cultivation in the UK of the variety is likely to affect adversely the health of any persons, animals or plants”.

FOE believes that herbicide-resistant crops (eg GM oilseed) will NOT be an improvement to crop farming and may indeed cause harm to humans, animals and plants.

We believe that herbicide tolerant maize crops may:
- lead to an increase in use of chemical pesticides
- increase herbicide residues in animal feeds
- contaminate non-modified and organic crops
- considerably increase the losses of insects and farmland birds

For further information, please read the FOE's briefings on Genetic Modification (available from FOE)

Does it cost anything?

Appallingly, yes! Anyone wanting to object must pay£30 and £60 when it goes to a public hearing.

How do I know when to object?

The Gazette is due to be published at the end of each month and usually the closing date for objections will be around the 18th of the following month. This does not give us much time to object!

What can I do?

    If you want to object and can afford to pay £30, fill in and return the form at the top of the page as soon as possible, or email us, and we'll write to you as soon as the proposed listing appears.

    If you want to object, but can't afford to pay, you can WRITE NOW to Nick Brown, the Agriculture Minister (Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London,SW1P 3JR) stating your objections, why you might be affected (eg., consumer of oilseed rape products, farmer, concerned with nature conservation), and asking him not to list the seeds for at least 5 years until more research is done.You may also, if you wish, include the following sentence at the end of your letter: “If any proposed decision is made to add a genetically-modified seed to the national list, I object and wish Friends of the Earth Limited to be regarded as representing my interests for the purposes of The Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 1982".

    FOE would be interested to receive copies of your correspondence.

February 2000

Real Food Campaign
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood Street
LONDON
N1 7JQ

E-mail - info@foe.co.uk
Website - www.foe.co.uk