21 August 2002

THE SECRET PLAN TO COMBINE GM SEEDS WITH NORMAL CROPS

Good to see the mainstream media picking up on the planned European Commission directive on GM contamination which could render GM-free crops a thing of the past.

Support the EU-wide petition to Save our Seeds:
http://www.saveourseeds.org

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"Greenpeace said it has been told Britain will vote in favour of the plan next month, demonstrating once again that the Government is backing the U.S. and its biotech giants, such as Monsanto. The agriculture department, DEFRA, has asked interested parties for their view on the proposals, but instead of the usual three-month consultation period, it has given opponents only six weeks. A Greenpeace spokesman said: 'Remarkably, the European Parliament - the only elected organ in the Brussels machinery - will not be allowed to vote on the issue. 'The final decision will be in the hands of civil servants from European countries, whose votes will be directed by ministers.' "

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The secret plan to combine GM seeds with normal crops

DAILY MAIL (London) August 20, 2002
Sean Poulter Consumer Affairs Correspondent

THE row over genetically modified food deepened yesterday as it was revealed that the Government is secretly backing plans to let contaminated seed be grown commercially in Britain. Tony Blair is supporting EU moves to make it legal for conventional seed for crops such as maize and oilseed rape to be tainted by GM genes at a rate of one in 200 plants. The contamination would not have to be declared on the label of seed sold to farmers, and environmental groups say the proposal amounts to the introduction of GM by stealth. The revelation came as Environment Minister Michael Meacher admitted that Britain and the rest of Europe are under pressure from the U.S. government to accept GM. American farmers are routinely growing GM crops and the Bush administration is desperate to remove any blocks on their efforts to export food around the world. Asked whether there was U.S. pressure for expanded GM production, Mr Meacher replied: 'Well, you know there is. 'The Americans are very keen. The amount of the prairies which have been cultivated with GM is colossal.'

 Mr Meacher, who unlike many of his colleagues in the Labour hierarchy is a GM sceptic, acknowledged that opponents of the technology believed the changes were being 'steamrollered through'. There is opposition to GM technology because of the lack of research into its impact on human health and the environment. The EU proposal to legalise the sale of contaminated seed is seen as key to forcing Britain and the rest of Europe to accept the technology, regardless of scientific and public objections. Green campaigners say any such plan would be disastrous, claiming it would release GM pollen without control across a wide area of Britain. It would also threaten the livelihood of organic farmers, whose crops would cross- pollinate, and honey producers who want to avoid GM taint.

 At the moment, GM crops can be grown only on licensed trial sites, which are supposed to be carefully policed. It is illegal to import and grow seed contaminated with any level of GM genes. But the European Commission Standing Committee on Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry wants to allow GM contamination of crop seeds to a set threshold without any declaration on the label. It says this is a pragmatic approach because cross-contamination is inevitable - through the spread of pollen - once the commercial cultivation of GM crops is allowed. Greenpeace said it has been told Britain will vote in favour of the plan next month, demonstrating once again that the Government is backing the U.S. and its biotech giants, such as Monsanto. The agriculture department, DEFRA, has asked interested parties for their view on the proposals, but instead of the usual three-month consultation period, it has given opponents only six weeks. A Greenpeace spokesman said: 'Remarkably, the European Parliament - the only elected organ in the Brussels machinery - will not be allowed to vote on the issue. 'The final decision will be in the hands of civil servants from European countries, whose votes will be directed by ministers.'

 He added: 'Tony Blair and other European leaders want to see farmers growing this potentially dangerous product and selling it to consumers. 'It will be entirely possible that soon hundreds of GM crops will be growing in the field at the end of your garden and neither you nor the farmer will know or be able to do anything about it.'

 A DEFRA spokesman denied it had already made up its mind to accept some GM contamination of conventional seed. On the general issue, he said: 'It is nonsense to suggest the Government is pushing for the commercialisation of GM crops. 'The Government's position is neutral. It will look at the evidence and take decisions in accord with the relevant legislation. This will be done openly and transparently.'