1.EPA approves controversial GM potato trials in Meath
2.National opposition to GMO potato experiment in Co. Meath - news, meeting and resources
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1.EPA approves controversial GM potato trials in Meath
Irish Independent, Friday May 5th 2006
http://www.unison.ie/breakingnews/index.php3?ca=9&si=91198&breakingnews=1
The Environmental Protection Agency has approved controversial plans to grow genetically modified potatoes in Co Meath.
The five-year trials by the German chemical firm BASF are due to take place in Arodstown, near the Teagasc research centre in Summerhill.
The potatoes will not be allowed on the market as this would require further consent and approval at EU level.
The EPA says the company will have to adhere to 10 conditions and the trials will be monitored by the agency on a continuing basis.
However, the trials are still likely to be widely opposed by local farmers and environmental campaigners.
The EPA received dozens of submissions opposing the plan when BASF first applied for permission earlier this year.
Farmers also expressed concern about the GM potatoes contaminating their crops, while doctors said the health risks associated with GM food had still not been fully examined.
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2.National opposition to GMO potato experiment in Co. Meath
Emergency community meeting - Friday 5 May, Newgrange Hotel, Navan at 8pm http://www.gmfreeireland.org/ (excerpts only)
The world's largest chemicals company BASF has notified the EPA of its plans to start a five-year experiment with 450,000 genetically modified potatoes in May near the Hill of Tara in Co. Meath.
If the EPA gives the go-ahead, contaminated farmers could face patent infringement lawsuits, compulsory labelling and royalty fees, consumer boycotts, and potential loss of ownership of their crops. At a meeting held next to the experiment site at Summerhill on 25 April, concerned farmers agreed to request their County Councilors to declare Co. Meath a GMO-free zone. See 28 April press release http://www.gmfreeireland.org/press/GMFI24.pdf
Farmers, food producers, consumers, citizens, County Councillors and TDs are invited to a follow-up emergency community meeting Friday 5 May at the Newgrange Hotel in Navan at 8pm, to view the award-winning film The Future of Food and decide what they can do to prevent the GMO experiment before it happens. Admission free; all are welcome. Please download the meeting notice and distribute it in Co. Meath.
http://www.gmfreeireland.org/potato/GM-freeMeath.pdf
On the deadline set by the EPA for public submissions on the proposed GMO release, it received one submission (from the Irish Bioindustry Association) in favour and 95 submissions opposing the experiment. Hundreds of people participated in a national protest outside the Dail (see photos).
http://www.gmfreeireland.org/potato/photos.php
http://www.gmfreeireland.org/potato/protest.php
At a related press conference, representatives of Irish farming bodies and the food and catering industries said the introduction of the GMO potatoes would destroy Bord Bia's branding of our country as Ireland - the food island. Speakers included... Senator David Norris, who revealed that Monsanto represented Ireland at the WTO talks in Hong Kong and Cancan!
The leading geneticist Prof. Joe Cummins's submission to the EPA warned that BASF's GMO potatoes could have toxic effects on humans and wildlife.
http://www.gmfreeireland.org/potato/index.php#cummins
In another submission, the GMO potato expert Dr. Arpad Pusztai> concluded "It is imperative for the EPA to reject this request until and unless they are first subjected to independent environmental and health risk assessments using a scientific protocol openly agreed and approved by independent scientists and representatives of the public and consumer groups."
http://www.gmfreeireland.org/potato/index.php#pusztai
Information Commissioner Emily O'Reilly criticised a related move by the Department of the Environment to exclude public access to GMO crop data from the Freedom of Information Act, saying there was sufficient provision in the act to protect the commercial nature of information without excluding it. In a report to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance and the Public Service, she also noted the "obligation" on the EPA to consider the public interest in any corporate request for confidentiality on GMO seeds and crops.
http://www.gmfreeireland.org/news/2006/feb.php#FOI
Growing support for local farmers
100 businesses and organisations representing over 32,000 Irish farmers, food producers, food exporters, restaurants, chefs, doctors, environmental groups and consumers have expressed support for local farmers opposed to the GMO potato experiment in Co. Meath.
PETITION: http://www.gmfreeireland.org/action/index.php
FORM: http://www.gmfreeireland.org/petition/GMFIpetition1.pdf
Over 5,000 people have signed a petition requesting the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan and Environment Minister Dick Roche to protect our health, environment and food security by banning all GMO crops in Ireland.
Please sign the petition or download the form to collect more signatures in your community.
The GM-free Ireland Network urgently needs financial support for this public awareness campaign. Contributions may be given through a registered charity. Please help.
http://www.gmfreeireland.org/support/index.php