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SENIOR MPS SLAM GOVERNMENT OVER GM CROPS

May 5 2004

A report by a powerful Committee of MPs has today criticised the Government for ignoring its concerns on GM crops [1].

The Environmental Audit Committee [2] also published the Government's response to the Committee's original report on the Farm Scale Evaluations (FSE), published in March, which was deeply critical of Government plans to allow GM crops to be commercially grown [3]. Today's report concluded that "The public at large are very concerned about issues relating to GM and will regard the Government's failure to engage with the Committee on this matter as a sign of weakness."

Today's report also highlighted that the Government response:

• Could not have allowed for proper consideration of the evidence in the Committee's original report, as the Government GM policy statement was made just four days after the report was published;

• Willfully or carelessly misinterpreted the Committee's report which permitted the Government to "recapitulate old objections to the concerns raised by those who for good reason oppose the planting of GM crops in the UK";

• Fails to address the issue of liability for contamination of non-GM crops;

• Fails to address the point that the FSE reflected a very narrow part of the Government's consultation.

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

"The Government has already ignored the public over GM crops, now it has ignored the concerns of this senior Committee of MPs. Little wonder so many people suspect that the vested interests of biotech business are driving Government policy on GM crops.It is time Tony Blair listened to MPs and the public instead of being an ambassador for the GM industry".

The Government has the opportunity to support a Bill on the 14^th May which would ensure that measures are put in place to prevent contamination of non-GM crops and that biotech companies are liable for any harm, before any further GM planting takes place. The Genetically Modified Organisms Bill is being sponsored by Gregory Barker, Conservative MP for Bexhill and Battle MP.

Notes

[1] The Parliamentary GM debate is due to take place in the House of Commons today from 4pm

[2] House of Commons The Environmental Audit Committee: GM Foods - Evaluating the Farm Scale Trials: the Government Response. Fifth Report of Session 2003-04. Copies available from Friends of the Earth.

[3] www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/ ¬
mps_slam_government_gm_cro_05032004.html

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