"If Monsanto can collect fees from farmers who find their fields contaminated with GM crops, should computer users pay licence fees to the writers of computer viruses?"
Thomas Ward, University of East Anglia
New Scientist April 28, 2001
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2 items from GEN - the Genetic Engineering Network
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1. two crop decontaminations
2. GM decontamination and FMD
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1.  Two crop decontaminations

Genetic Engineering Network has received reports of two crop decontaminations in the past week, both of which were 100% destroyed.   The tests were two of nine National Seed List trials, and if allowed to continue, the crop, GE winter oil seed rape, would have been closer to commercialisation.  

National Seed List trials are normally quite small, and serve the purpose of moving a given seed variety further through the regulatory system towards approval for commercial use in the UK. There has been some controvesy about glusfosinate ammonium resistant OSR, as commercial use of this chemical is banned in the UK during winter months because of toxicity in ground water residues.

The crops which which were decontaminated were:
Piccots End, Hertfordshire  TL 054 104
Albury, Hertfordshire TL 423 234
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Dear All, this has just been sent in - and seems v. useful - it also shows a different face of direct action, at odds with that which the media has shown us in the past few weeks - thank goodness for diversity.  I think it would be very useful to circulate this, not only to people who might think of taking part in this kind of action, but also to farmers  etc.
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2. GM decontamination and FMD

The extent of the Foot and Mouth crisis over the last few months, it's impact on small farmers and the dangers of spreading the infection while the Government continues it's culling policy has crippled the countryside.

However, this in no way lessens the ongoing and deliberate pollution presented by GE crops being sown in this country.

For the past few years, a growing number of people have been taking direct action against the the pollution of our environment by the deliberate release of GMO's on British farmland. These people have been motivated by the urgent issues of protecting the countryside from this living pollution and by an increasing desire to take communal responsibility for the future of our environment.

The continued planting of GE crops, despite demands from environmentalists to halt all agricultural trials for the duration of the Foot and Mouth epidemic, as happened in 1967, will undoubtably lead many groups and individuals to continue with GE crop decontaminations this year. Because their principle motivation is to protect the environment, these people will wish to take every precaution possible to make sure they do not spread F&M.

Therefore, the protocols below for disinfecting people and vehicles have been put together for general public information.

Introduction

These are guidelines compiled from guidance notes placed on the MAFF website. Because over the last few years people have used many methods to decontaminate sites, these guidelines are not a strict list. Individuals and groups should spend some time, working out their own exact procedures, which will vary depending on the crop and its location.

These guidelines may seem excessive and you may feel, having read them, that there is no way you should visit farm land to decontaminate GM crops. However;

a) The precautions are not so different to those used by people already to avoid carrying pollen and/or seeds away form GM crops.

b) These guidelines are similar to those that are being used, by officials carrying out the farm scale trials, by those running both GM and non-GM national seed listing trials, and by commercial crop inspectors who travel the country inspecting purity levels of crops grown for seed.

Main Guidelines

1. Find out what the precise current situation is with regards foot and mouth in the local area. Where is the nearest outbreak? Will you be travelling from an infected area to and uninfected one, in order to reach the site? Most of this information can be found on the MAFF website

2. If possible find out if the farm you are visiting has livestock. If so, find out where the livestock are kept. Will you have to cross land that has or may have had livestock on recently? Consider all the ways you can avoid going anywhere near livestock or land that has had livestock on it.

3. The following are extracts from the MAFF 'Foot and Mouth Disease Public information Factsheet 6 - Precautions to be exercised by people working in the countryside.

"Take responsibility for your own actions whilst visiting farms and ensure the highest standards of personal disinfection and cleanliness is carried out at all times. Arrive at the farm clean. Wear a material that can be cleansed and disinfected. Ensure that your vehicle is clean.

Leaving the Farm:

Ensure that all the mud slurry or manure is washed off before leaving the premises.

Disinfectant (and water if needed) should be carried in all vehicles at all times

Apply disinfectant after washing

Spraying in the most effective method (of applying disinfectant), not forgetting tyres and the underside of the vehicle. Spraying should be undertaken even if there is a wheel dip or disinfectant mat in place. Concentrated may be caustic and require protective clothing to be worn. Always check the label first.

Once the vehicle is clean consider personal cleaning and disinfection. Ensure all clothing and boots are disinfected before they are put into the vehicle".

Another useful guidance note from MAFF is 'Guidance for growers of crops and grass'.

"The footwear of any one entering the fields should be demonstrable clean, disinfected and free from adhering material and should be similarly clean after use, so as to leave the premises in the same clean disinfected condition."

4. Except for people who have wished to decontaminate crops in an accountable way, it is realised that they above guidelines do not take into account peoples desire to leave the area of the site immediately after the decontamination has taken place. The following suggestions will help people stay within the guidelines whilst taking practicalities into account.

Consider wearing a second layer of clothing that can be removed once you leave the site(not the white suits, virus particles will easily go through these and stay on your clothes)

If a car is used to reach the site/area make sure clothes, boots and tools are cleaned/disinfected as above.

Then use new bin liners to wrap tools in and to place boots into inside the car.

When leaving the field if possible remove boots immediately and then walk bear foot to the vehicle.

Place boots and tools inside bin liners, along with outer second layer of clothing.

Only then get into the car.

Once away from the site, make sure all the tools, clothing and boots are cleaned and disinfected in away that will not spread the disease (i.e. don't just wash soil down the sink/drain)

Finally think about where you will be travelling to after the decontamination. Will you travel from an area with Foot and Mouth to one without the disease?

Will you be going near livestock in the following days - say on one of the reopened foot paths. Think about whether there is anything (boot for example) that could still be carrying the disease

5. The MAFF website includes a list of approved disinfectants, and manufacturers of these. One very innocuous one is 2% citric acid solution, another easily accessible one is Milton's fluid.