Archived press release

Government may ignore public opinion on GM crops

19 May 2003

Friends of the Earth reacted angrily today to comments by Environment Minister Michael Meacher suggesting that the Government may allow GM crops to be grown commercially in the UK regardless of public opinion [1]. The Government's public consultation on GM crops begins in two weeks time [2].

Speaking on BBC radio's Farming Today this morning, Mr Meacher said that a ban on GM crops would be illegal unless there is scientific proof that they harm people or the environment. Last week the US made a formal complaint to the WTO over the EU's de-facto moratorium on issuing new GM licenses [3].

Major issues such as the coexistence of GM and non-GM crops and liability for economic and environmental harm are still being hotly debated in Europe and the UK [4].

Friends of the Earth's GM campaigner Pete Riley said:

"The public have made it perfectly clear that they do not want to eat GM food. Allowing GM crops to be commercially grown would threaten our food, farming and environment with GM pollution, and take away people's right to say no to GMOs. There is genuine scientific uncertainty surrounding the potential impacts these crops have on people, the environment and the food chain. But this Government is so pro-GM it chooses to ignore them."

"Next month, the Government is launching its public debate on GM crops. But if it is to have any credibility, ministers must guarantee beforehand that if the public say they don't want GM crops, the Government will not give them the commercial go-ahead. Without that guarantee, there seems little point in debating the issue.''

Notes

1. Public opposition to GM food and crops remains high. In October 2002, an NOP survey revealed that 57 per cent didn't want the Government to allow GM crops to be commercially grown across the UK. The previous month a poll for the Grocer found that 58 per cent would avoid products containing GM ingredients. And in April 2003, a MORI poll showed that 56 per cent opposed GM food, compared to a paltry one in seven (14 per cent) who support it.

Wales, Devon, Dorset, Lancashire, Cornwall and South Gloucestershire have recently taken action to go GM-free. This includes taking steps to stop tenant farmers growing GM crops, and banning GM food from local food services such as school meals and residential homes. Some authorities have also pledged to write to the Government and Brussels applying, under new European laws, to be excluded from growing certain GM crops. The actions result from Friends of the Earth's GM-Free Britain campaign which was launched last year. More information can be found at www.gmfreebritain.com

2. The Government's Public Debate on GM is due to be launched on Tuesday 3^rd June with regional events in Birmingham 3rd June, Swansea 5th June, Taunton 7^th June, Belfast 9th June, Glasgow 11th June and Harrogate 13th June.

3. FOE Press release: www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/us_files_wto_gm_complaint0.html

4. Franz Fischler organised a round table on coexistence last month and on 28^th May Friends of the Earth Europe is organizing a major conference on the subject in Brussels. The Government's GM policy advisers, the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission, has been conducting an investigation into coexistence and liability for the past two years and is due to report later in the summer.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust