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Archived press release

Brighton goes gm-free

25 September 2003

Brighton and Hove Council today became the first local authority in the South East to vote to become a GM-free zone, joining a growing number of local authorities around the country responding to public concerns about the effects of eating and growing GM crops.

Friends of the Earth, which is campaigning for a GM-free Britain [1], welcomed the two resolutions which were both passed unopposed and challenged East Sussex County council to do the same.

The Council raised concerns about threats of GM to the South Downs National Park and local and organic food production. It declared itself a GM-free zone and voted to prevent GM crops being grown by tenant farmers, to bar GM food from its services like school meals; and to apply to use a new European law [2] to prevent GM crops from being grown anywhere in Brighton and Hove [3].

Brighton and Hove is the latest local authority to go GM-free, following Cornwall, Cumbria, Devon, Dorset, Lancashire, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, the Lake District National Park and the Welsh National Assembly. A number of district and town councils have also voted to go GM-free.

Friends of the Earth's South East Campaigner Brenda Pollack said:

"This is great news for people in Brighton and Hove who are rightly concerned about the impact of GM crops and food. Up and down the country local authorities are sending a clear message to the Government that they do not want GM threatening their food, farming and environment. We now challenge East Sussex County Council to do the same."

Friends of the Earth's GM Campaigner Clare Oxborrow said:

Concerns in Brighton and Hove echo those highlighted in the Government's GM Nation Public Debate - that people don't want to see GM crops being grown in the UK and don't want to eat GM food. Tony Blair must now listen to the public on this and to the numerous local authorities who want to keep their areas free of GM crops, and refuse to allow them to be grown".

Notes

[1] See www.gmfreebritain.com

[2] Councils can request legal protection of their areas from particular GM crops using Article 19 of the Deliberate Release Directive 2001/19/EC. For more explanation see briefing on GM-Free local areas: www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/gmfree_local_areas.pdf (PDF format)

[3] Full text of Brighton and Hove Council motions, 25 September 2003

LABOUR PARTY NOTICE OF MOTION GENETICALLY MODIFIED (GM) PRODUCTS

Motion for Council Councillor Joyce Edmond-Smith

This Council notes the widespread public concern about the effects of the cultivation and consumption of Genetically Modified (GM) products.

In particular it notes the overwhelming rejection of GM crops at a consultation meeting organised by the Sustainability Commission, under the auspices of the Office for Information, in Brighton on 9 July.

The Council therefore:

1. Requests the Secretary of State for Agriculture to provide legal protection for the land it owns as a GM free area, under Article 19 of 2001/18/EC or under any relevant powers.
2. Agrees in principle to adopt a GM free policy which, when contracts are let or if and when they become renewable, will ensure that GM food, ingredients, derivatives are eliminated; and to inform its farm tenants of such policy.
3. Instructs officers to report to the Policy and Resources Committee on the legal, financial and practical implications of adopting and implementing such a policy before a final decision is made.

GREEN PARTY NOTICE OF MOTION GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD AND ORGANISMS

Proposed: Councillor Georgia Wrighton Seconded: Councillor George Richard Mallender

This council notes:

1. The current "GM Nation" debate called by the government to inform decisions about the future use and release of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in this country.
2. Delegates at the GM Nation debate organised by this council's Sustainability Commission on 9 July 2003 unanimously opposed the growing of GM crops in the UK.
3. The widespread public concern about the possible adverse effects of GM foods on public health and the environment and the acknowledged importance of a precautionary approach to the release of GMOs.
4. The threat to the biodiversity of areas in and around the proposed South Downs National Park, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
5. The threat of GMO contamination to organic farms, allotments and food production in general in Brighton and Hove
6. A number of other local authorities have already declared their areas "GM-Free Zones", among them Cumbria, York, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall and all of Wales.
7. That the Local Government Act 2000 empowers local authorities to safeguard the environmental, social and economic well being of the communities they represent, and requires them to implement suitable strategies to achieve this.

Accordingly, this Council resolves in principle to:

1. Declare the City of Brighton & Hove a "GM Free Zone" in so far as it is able
2. Take appropriate action to prevent farm-scale trials of GM crops or the use of GM animal feed on the 11,000 acres of land it owns or controls.
3. Review all council contracts for the provision of goods and services to ensure the exclusion of GM foods, particularly in school meals.
4. Call on the Primary Care Trust, Hospital and Health Authorities working in the City to adopt a GM-Free policy for all goods and services in hospitals and other health care provision to protect the well-being of our most vulnerable citizens.
5. Request the government to prohibit the use or sale of GM animal feeds to minimise the amount of GMOs entering the human food chain.
6. Require officers to bring the necessary reports to consider implementation of this policy to the relevant decision-making committee

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For further information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

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