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17 Feb 2000
The UK's leading farm insurance company - NFU Mutual - will not offer
farmers insurance against GM pollution Friends of the Earth (FOE) has
discovered. The revelation is likely to be of major concern to farmers
neighbouring GM farm scale trials. The issue is due to be raised in
Parliament later today (Thursday) by Alan Simpson MP (Lab - Nottingham
South) who earlier this week presented the Genetically Modified Food
and Producer Liability Bill to MPs.
Friends of the Earth has obtained a copy of a letter (attached)from
the NFU to a farmer in Lincolnshire. It says that loss of GM-free status,
the potential loss of crops through cross pollination and the loss of
the value of farmland (through GM pollution) is something the NFUM cannot
offer insurance against.
FOE has frequently raised concerns about this issue and has called
on the Government to move quickly to ensure that the biotechnology industry
is strictly liable for any harm caused by GM crops.
Alan Simpson's Bill - which is being supported by FOE - places strict
liability for harm caused to the environment and human health on the
companies releasing or selling the GM crops or food. It also requires
the companies to ensure that they have adequate insurance cover and
to create a compensation fund [1,2].
The question of liability is firmly on the political agenda following
the Biosafety Protocol agreement in Montreal last month [3], though
no firm proposal was made. In Europe, GM liability may also be included
in a key EU directive currently being revised in the European Parliament[4].
Pete Riley Biotechnology Campaigner of Friends of the Earth said:
“In the headlong rush to get GM crops in our fields and GM food
on our plates the crucial issue of liability has been ignored. The Government
must act and tell us who is going to pick up the bill if this new technology
damages peoples health, livelihoods or the environment. The current
Government position of doing nothing cannot continue.”
Peter Lundgren, Lincolnshire Farmer said:
“It seems that it will be left to individual farmers to sue
their neighbours if their crops get contaminated with GM pollen. This
will be extremely divisive and do little to foster harmony in rural
areas. Anyone thinking of growing GM crops should think again.”
Alan Simpson MP said:
“The Bill I have presented to the House places liability where
it should be - with the biotechnology companies. It protects other companies
in the food chain including farmers from claims against them for harm
caused by the biotech industry. This is a fair and reasonable legislation
that the Government should support in the absence of an international
protocol or EU legislation”.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] Alan Simpson MP first presented the GM food and producer Liability
Bill to Parliament in June 1999. It was re-presented on Tuesday 15 February
.
[2] Alan Simpson MP is due to raise the issue of lack of insurance
cover for farmers and the potential for the GM Farm-Scale Trials during
Business Questions on Thursday 17th February 1999.
[3] The Biosafety Protocol agreed in Montreal on 29th
January included a proposal to consider liability for harm caused by
a genetically modified organism (GMO) during future rounds of discussions.
[4] The GMO deliberate Release Directive 90/220 is currently being revised. The European Parliament can include a clause placing liability on the biotechnology industry for any harm caused by the release or sale of a GMO. The final wording is expected to be agreed in April 2000.
Contact details:
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood St.
LONDON
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Web: www.foe.co.uk/feedback.html
Media team
