Home > Press releases > 2002
29 Nov 2002
Government policy on genetically modified (GM) crops descended into
farce again today after the Government confirmed that a major scientific
review of the new technology - which will help determine whether to
allow GM crops to be commercially grown - will end before the GM farm
scale trials have finished [1].
The short deadline imposed by Environment Secretary, Margaret Beckett,
further undermines the Government’s Public Debate on GM Issues
[2] which is due to begin early next year. The debate, which has three
strands (a public debate, the scientific review and a costs and benefits
study of GM crops), has already been described by an unnamed Government
Minister as just a “PR offensive” [3].
The GM farm scale trials started in 1999 "to study the effect, if any, that the management practices associated with Genetically Modified Herbicide Tolerant (GMHT) crops might have on farmland wildlife, when compared with weed control used with non-GM crops." However, the trials were criticized because of the threat they posed to neighbouring crops and honey, and because they would only provide a very limited view of the potential long-term environmental impacts of this new technology.
Friends of the Earth's GM campaigner Pete Riley said:
"The Government's Public Debate on GM issues is descending into
farce. The Government told the public that the farm scale trials would
provide important information on the safety of GM crops - but Mrs Beckett's
ludicrously short timetable for completing the scientific review means
that those results will now be excluded. Many people already think that
the GM debate is simply a PR exercise. Unless the debate is extended
beyond the June deadline this suspicion will only grow."
[1] Government press release confirms that the Public Debate and Scientific Review will be completed by June next year. The GM farm scale trials (or farm scale evaluations) won't finish until after that date, with the results published in July.
[2] Earlier this year the Government said that it would hold a Public
Debate on GM issues. The debate has already been heavily criticized.
Many feel that it is simply a PR exercise. Friends of the Earth and
others have also called for the period of the debate and reviews to
be extended beyond June 2003 to allow all available information and
opinions to be integrated. The Government has not explained how it intends
to use the outcome of the debate or reviews in the decision making process
for the commercial approval for the first generation of GM crops. Questions
are also being asked about the independence of the Science Review and
Economic Review, following the announcement that they will be run by
the Government's Chief Scientist Professor David King and the Prime
Minister's Strategy Unit, respectively. More information on the Government's
GM debate can be found at:
www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/debate/index.htm
[3] Daily Telegraph and FT (9 July 2002).
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
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