As 24 UK GM beet trials are announced for the spring... Here's confirmation that British Sugar "...will refuse to process these varieties..." and has indicated to DETR and MAFF that "...there are no prospects of commercial GM beet varieties being required."

regards
Marcus Williamson http://www.gmfoodnews.com/

To: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   
Subject: Media enquiry : Impact of UK government trials of GM sugar  beet on crops for British Sugar -Reply   
From: Geoff Lancaster <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>   
Date: Thu, 08 Feb 2001 09:30:50 +0000

Marcus, good to hear from you again.

The so called SCIMAC (govt) trials will have no impact whatsoever on the commercialisation of GM beet. The ultimate  decision whether or not GM beet is grown for sugar production rests entirely with the customer. So long as customers continue to advise British Sugar that they do not want sugar derived from GM sources, then we will refuse to process these varieties. Our regular surveys of consumer opinion continue to show a strong majority in favour of not accepting GM varieties of sugar beet.

We take elaborate and expensive precautions to ensure that GM trial material cannot inadvertantly enter our production stream. These stretch from seed to factory and are independantly audited by Lloyds. The protocol we operate is far in excess of statutory requirements (EC 90/220) and has been accepted by SCIMAC. Compliance is mandatory for any beet grower contracted to British Sugar who decides to grow a trial in the SCIMAC programme.

The SCIMAC trials are government sponsored biodiversity trials and as such we have no powers to influence whether they proceed or not. We have pointed out to the DETR and MAFF that there are no prospects of commercial GM beet varieties being required.

Marcus, as you can probably deduce there is no change to British Sugar's position on this issue.

I hope this covers all your points,

Regards Geoff Lancaster Head of Business Communications