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Mp introduces bill on GM liability and contamination
24 March 2004
The Government must back a Private Members Bill guaranteeing that GM crops will not be planted in the UK until the House of Commons approves new rules preventing GM contamination and agreeing liability, Friends of the Earth said today.
The Second Reading of the Genetically Modified Organisms Bill, which has been introduced by Gregory Barker MP, takes place on Friday (26th March). It is backed by cross-party MPs and is supported by of Friends of the Earth and the Five Year Freeze.
Earlier this month the Government promised to consult on new rules to stop GM contamination, but failed to say whether or not GM crops would be planted before they are in place [1].
Friends of the earth's Director, Tony Juniper said:
"Tough new laws to prevent GM pollution and to decide who is responsible if things go wrong are desperately needed before the Government can even consider allowing GM crops to be grown in our countryside. The Government has promised action on this issue, but has not ruled out planting GM crops before new rules are in place. Failure to back this Bill will inevitably lead to suspicions that Ministers care more about the interests of the biotech firms than UK consumers."
ENDS
[1] During the GM Policy Statement on 9 March 2004, Andrew George MP asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, Margaret Beckett MP, if contamination thresholds for organic farms would be set before the GM plantings, and was told "we anticipate that that will be the case, although … little organic maize is grown in the UK, so the issue is not of major importance." Mrs Beckett also only "anticipated" rules to prevent contamination would be in place before the first plantings in an answer to Kate Hoey MP, (Hansard 9/3/04).
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jun 2008
