The [Scottish] Executive is repeatedly delaying a crucial consultation on the threat of GM crops and has now announced that it will not take place until summer 2007, after the next election. Ministers were due to issue proposals on the "co-existence" of GM crops in summer 2005, and Greens argue that the latest delay indicates Labour and LibDems' fear of drawing attention to their support for GM crops.

Mark Ruskell MSP, Green speaker on environment, has proposed a bill at Holyrood [home of the Scottish Parliament] to make GM companies strictly liable for any economic damage as a result of contamination caused by GM crop trials and commercialisation.

Mr Ruskell said, "This delay proves the Labour and LibDem Executive is simply trying to dodge the issue because they know that their support for GM is massively unpopular with the public, and potentially disastrous for consumers, farmers and the environment. A similar consultation has been completed south of the border - election or no election, there are no excuses for not pressing ahead with it in Scotland."

Mr Ruskell added, "Consumers don't want GM, and they don't want foods contaminated with GM - just look at how the organic food sector is thriving. Farmers, organic and conventional, have enough pressures without having to deal with the risk of contamination.

"GM contamination has cost conventional and organic farmers in North America dear - we must not make the same mistakes in Scotland. All economic liability must fall onto the GM companies, who must carry the can for contamination."

GM crops are not currently grown commercially in the UK, and in 2004 the Executive pushed through a "voluntary ban" on GM crops in Scotland, a move Greens describe as completely ineffective. The proposals for measures suggested by DEFRA for England have been found by experts on EU law to be seriously flawed, and if implemented, will allow widespread GM contamination of UK food and farming.