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Government must not ignore public over GM crop commercialisation
26 July 2002
Friends of the Earth had hoped that the Government’s GM debate would allow the public to choose whether it wants GM crops to be grown in the UK. But the Government said today that it would “ensure a clear separation between this overall dialogue and the much later decision-making process on the very specific issue of possible commercialisation of particular GM crops.” It appears that this process is unlikely to include public opinion, but will be “based on an objective assessment of all the available evidence, including the Farm Scale Evaluations, other scientific evidence and information about the costs and benefits to the UK.”
Earlier this month an unnamed Government Minister told a number of national newspapers [1] that a decision to allow GM crops to be commercially grown in the UK had already been taken (“don’t be in any doubt, the decision is already taken”). The Minister also described the forthcoming public debate on GM crops as a “PR offensive”
Adrian Bebb, GM campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:
“This debate will be pretty pointless unless the Government makes it clear that they will not allow GM crops to be grown in the UK if the public opposes their commercial development. People have already rejected GM food. That’s why food companies have all gone GM-free. We don’t need discussion, we need action. The Government must start listening.
“If GM crops were commercially grown in the UK it would lead to widespread GM contamination of conventional and organic crops, honey and plants in the wider environment. Why risk this when there is clearly no market for GM food in the UK?”
Government research has concluded that contamination of organic and conventional crops would be “inevitable” if GM commercialisation went ahead. In 2000, FOE research found GM pollen in beehives almost 2 miles from the nearest GM crops.
Notes
[1] Daily Telegraph and FT, 9 July 2002.
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jun 2008
