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Government GM Safeguards
7 February 2001
GOVERNMENT'S GM EXCLUSION ZONE “PATHETIC”
Friends of the Earth today described new quarantine zones around GM crops trials as “pathetically inadequate”.
The Government was forced to review the separation distances around GM crops following concerns that GM pollen might contaminate conventional and organic crops and honey.
- In 1999 research commissioned by FOE discovered GM oil seed rape pollen in bee hives over two and a half miles from the nearest GM trial site.
- Last May Friends of the Earth revealed that it had purchased GM-contaminated honey from a shop.
- And later that month it was revealed that large parts of the UK countryside were accidentally sown with GM-contaminated oil seed rape. The seed company claimed that cross-pollination caused the contamination in Canada. The nearest GM crops were reportedly 4km away.
The Government also revealed its intention to increase the number of GM trials to a massive 96.
Adrian Bebb, GM campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:
“Once again the Government has shown reckless arrogance over the dangers of GM crops.The public have made it perfectly clear that they do not want GM food. This announcement shows that the Government cares more about the interests of the biotech industry than it does about consumer choice. The livelihoods of conventional and organic farmers and beekeepers around the country who wish to produce GM-free food are now at risk.”
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jun 2008
