Archived press release

GM maize could be grown in Britain

8 August 2005

A new GM row has broken out today after it was revealed that GM crops could be grown in the British countryside without neighbouring farmers, the public or even the UK Government knowing anything about it [1].

The latest controversy emerged after biotech giant Monsanto indicated that it would be willing to send samples of its GM maize to UK farmers, and the Government admitted that it would be powerless to stop the seed being grown. A spokeswoman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) told Friends of the Earth "At present neither Monsanto nor any farmer growing the crop is required to inform defra or anyone else of their plans to grow one of the varieties of maize MON 810 on the EU common catalogue of seeds." [2]

Friends of the Earth alerted the Government to this GM loophole last year and urged it to take action to close it. But so far it has failed to act.

Seventeen varieties of Monsanto's insect resistant GM maize, MON810, were made available to European farmers to grow last year [3]. But because the GM seed was approved in 1998 under old GM legislation, there is no requirement for farmers to notify the Government or neighbouring farmers if it is planted.

Under the old GM legislation, there was no obligation to carry out an environmental risk assessment. Since the GM maize was approved, a host of studies have been published showing alarming environmental impacts [4]. There are also no rules in place to prevent GM contamination of non-GM and organic crops and foods - the UK Government has repeatedly delayed its public consultation on the issue.

Friends of the Earth wrote to the Government last November [5], asking it to ban the seed in the UK, which they can do under EU seed law [6], but it refused. Other EU countries have taken the threat seriously; Poland and Greece have taken action under the EU seed law and Austria and Hungary both have a national ban on MON810 in place.

Although these GM maize varieties are unlikely to be attractive to UK farmers, because the crops are modified to be resistant to insects that are not a particular problem in Britain, there is nothing to stop farmers in Britain growing them, as long as they do not use the product commercially.

Friends of the Earth's GM Campaigner Clare Oxborrow said

"Farmers and the public will be shocked to hear that GM crops could be grown in the UK without anyone knowing about it. The Government had the chance to close this GM loophole, but has failed to act to protect consumers, farmers and the environment. It has not even ensured that there are strict rules in place to prevent GM contamination of non-GM and organic crops. When will the Government start to listen to the public, stop backing the GM industry, and support farmers in growing the kind of food that people really want to eat?"

Notes

[1] www.guardian.co.uk/gmdebate/Story/0,2763,1544733,00.html

[2] Email from DEFRA to Friends of the Earth, 8 October 2004

[3] UK farmers to grow GM maize?

[4]

• A study by Swiss researchers found fewer flying insects in GM insect resistant maize fields. Flying insects are important food sources for insect-eating birds and bats.
• A study published in 2003 found that earthworms feeding on the GM maize litter showed a weight loss compared to a weight gain in earthworms feeding on non-GM maize. Earthworms are extremely important for nutrient cycling in soils.
• A study in Switzerland found that the GM maize toxin could still be detected in soil the following year after the Bt maize was harvested.

[5] Copy of the letter, sent to Margaret Beckett, available from Friends of the Earth

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust