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FRIENDS OF THE EARTH WELCOMES PRINCE'S ATTACK ON GMOs

08 Jun 1998

Commenting on the Daily Telegraph article by Prince Charles on his fears about Genetically Engineered Crops, Robin Maynard, Food Campaigner for Friends of the Earth said:

“Friends of the Earth is delighted that Prince Charles has publicly expressed his concerns about genetically engineered crops and food. His fears are shared by millions of people in the UK who are already being forced to eat genetically altered food against their will.

The Prince's intervention is also a timely one. The Government still has an opportunity to resist the huge commercial pressures from the biotech. companies and call a moratorium on the development of these Frankenstein crops so that a proper debate can be held. If the Government refuses to act, commercial crops will be grown in this country next year, and the effects would then be irreversible. The Government must listen to the public fears articulated by Prince Charles before this dangerous genie is let out of the bottle”.

Notes
The Government's own advisers on nature conservation, English Nature , have called for a five year moratorium on the commercial planting of genetically modified crops.