Plans to allow farmers to grow a form of GM maize in Britain could still be foiled in Wales. UK environment secretary Margaret Beckett will need the signature of her Welsh counterpart, Carwyn Jones, before the Chardon LL maize, also known as T25, is added to the National Seeds List.

A motion is to be debated by the Welsh Assembly on Wednesday, 24 March, proposed by Lib Dem Assembly Member Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire).  

If adopted, this motion will oppose the addition of the GM maize to the UK's National Seed List, oppose planting of the GM maize in the whole of the UK and allow Wales to adopt the most legally restrictive policy possible on GM. So we want the Assembly to vote FOR the motion.

Any lobbying of Assembly Members would be appreciated. Some Labour Party members could oppose the Executive's intention to pass the GM maize for the UK.

THE WORDING OF THE MOTION

Kirsty Williams' motion proposes that the Welsh National Assembly:

1. Directs the Labour Assembly Government to reiterate its policy of applying the precautionary principle and adopting the most legally restrictive policy possible in relation to GM crops;

2. Welcomes and endorses the conclusion of the UK Parliament's Environmental Audit Committee that it would be irresponsible for the UK government to allow the commercial planting of GM crops;

3. Welcomes the investment in organic and traditional agriculture in Wales but believes that this investment would be jeopardised by the commercial growing of GM crops in the UK;

4. Deplores the announcement by the UK Government of its intention to approve the growing of the GM Maize Chardon LL and directs the Labour Assembly Government to ensure that Chardon LL is not added to the UK seed list.

POINTS TO MAKE IN YOUR EMAIL

[please use your own words and adapt the arguments as desired; please maintain a polite tone]

* Please vote to support the motion proposed by Kirsty Williams (use any of the points above, plus reasons of your own)

* Carwyn Jones (Welsh environment minister) must not attempt to maintain Wales as a GM-free region while supporting the instigation of 'so-called' coexistence measures. No safe separation distances exist within the UK; therefore a GM-free Wales depends on a GM-free UK.

* The decision on the seed listing should be made by a vote in the Assembly, NOT by the ministerial group.

* Any decision to add Chardon LL to the Seed List may be open to legal challenge. There is scientific evidence from the Independent Science Panel that Chardon LL is unstable, and from the Environmental Audit Committee report that it failed the environmental risk assessment in the FSEs) - which may mean it's illegal under the current EU Directive.

WELSH ASSEMBLY MEMBERS TO BE LOBBIED

Here is the list of Assembly Members to be lobbied:

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Members of the Labour Cabinet:
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