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Government proposes to trash GM trials
23 August 2000
In bizarre twist, the Government today admitted that they may order the “de-flowering” of GM crops involved in the farm scale trials for winter oilseed rape.
In announcing that the approval for the GM winter oilseed rape farm-scale trials , the Government has admitted that certain non GM varieties which are more susceptable to cross pollination will require extra protection. They may order that pollination of the GM crops be prevented next spring.
The Government has also failed to heed the warnings about the cross pollination of crops by GM crops following the contamination of oilseed rape seed in Canada [1] and is to push ahead with the GM farm-scale trials for winter oilseed rape without accepting the need for massive separation distance to neighbouring crops.
Pete Riley of Friends of the Earth said:
“The farm scale trails have become a joke. The Government has condemned people for cutting down crops to protect neighbouring farmers and yet they now suggest that they may do it themselves. The time has come to abandon the trials because its obvious the chances that GM crops will ever be able to be grown commercially without causing real economic damage to neighbouring arable farmers and beekeepers are next to none.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] In spring 200 batches of spring oilseed rape seed imported by Advanta Seeds UK from Canada were fond to be contaminated with GM up to 1%. The cause of this contamination was cross pollination over 4000 metres according to Advanta's own staff giving evidence to the House of Commons Agriculture Committee on 18th July.
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jul 2008
