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23 Jul 2001
Press Release
For Immediate Release: 23 July 2001
Trials In Error - Government fails to
consult on new GM farm scale trials
Following the Government's announcement of 26 GM farm-scale trials for this autumn, Pete Riley from Friends of the Earth commented
"Once again the biotech industry and the Government have decided to use the 1960s approach to consultation of "decide , announce and defend" when announcing unpopular decisions. Where is the consultation for the local communities who are affected by these large scale outdoor
experiments? Oilseed rape pollen will travel miles and neighbouring crops could be cross pollinated leaving farmers the problem of selling a contaminated crop. Bees will certainly collect the pollen putting the quality of honey at risk. Government Ministers have been paying lip service to consultation but when it comes to the crunch it simply does not happen. The Farm Scale Trials should not proceed until the whole community have agreed how or if genetic pollution can be controlled and what is or isn't acceptable.
A glance down the list of the new sites reveals many familiar locations used in previous trials suggesting that SCIMAC have been struggling to find new farmers to join these unwelcome and unpopular GM trials"
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
