Archived press release

Government ignores public and science - GM given thumbs up

9 March 2004

Friends of the Earth today attacked the Government after it gave qualified approval to the commercial development of GM maize. The decision ignores the views of the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, public opinion and considerable scientific uncertainties [1,2].

The Government today announced that GM maize can be grown in the UK - provided it gets national seed list approval and pesticide approval (see below). It said that the maize, Chardon LL, will have to be grown under strict conditions, with only one application of the pesticide Liberty (Glufosinate Ammonium) being permitted. Friends of the Earth challenged the Government to say how it would enforce this.

The Government also announced a consultation on GM contamination and liability. But it has refused to back a Private Members Bill by Greg Barker MP aimed at addressing this issue, which will get its Second Reading in Parliament later this month [3].

Friends of the Earth's director, Tony Juniper, said

"The Government has given the thumbs up to GM maize, and shown two fingers to the British public. In demonstrating its pro-GM credentials,the Government has ignored considerable scientific uncertainties, shown contempt to Parliament and utterly disregarded public opinion. Moreover, this crop will be fed to cows to make milk that will not be labelled as GM, thereby making a mockery of official claims that policy will preserve consumer choice. We will now fight this all the way - through the remaining official approval stages and through the market".

GM maize will still need National List approval before it can be added to the `seed list' and sold to farmers. This requires permission from not only the UK Government, but the devolved governments in Wales and Scotland (Northern Ireland is directly ruled from Westminster at present). The Scottish Parliament and, particularly the National Assembly of Wales, are thought to be reluctant to agree.

Tony Juniper continued

"The Welsh and Scottish executives must stand firm on GM. The best way to protect their food and farming from GM pollution is to refuse to allow GM maize to be added to the national seed list."

Notes

[1] Last Friday the Environmental Audit Committee urged the Government not to allow GM maize to be commercially grown in the UK. It also called for thorough research into the experience of GM crops in North America.

[2] Last year the Government held a national debate on GM issues called GM Nation? The debate consisted of three elements - a science review, economic assessment and the debate itself. All three strands highlight reasons why GM crops should not be given commercial approval.

• Economics: A report by the Government's Strategy Unit on the 11 July, concluded that public refusal to eat GM food means that there is little economic value in the current generation of GM crops, and that continuing public opposition would also affect their long-term future.

• Science:: The science review, led by Professor Sir David King (the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser), and published on 21 July, raised serious questions about significant gaps in our scientific knowledge on the potential impacts GM food and crops on our health and the environment.

• GM Nation and public opinion: More than half (54 per cent) said they never want to see GM crops grown in the UK. A further 18 per cent would find GM crops acceptable only if there was no risk of cross-contamination, and 13 per cent wanted more research before any decision was made. A mere two per cent said that GM crops were acceptable "in any circumstances" and only eight per cent were happy to eat GM food (86 per cent were not).

[3] Greg Barker's Bill would introduce separation distances between GM and non-GM crops, and provide strict liability (and liability funds) to ensure that if organic or conventional crops suffer GM contamination, those affected can be compensated. Parliament will debate the Bill on 26th March 2004.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust