Tighter Wales GM rules expected
- Details
Welsh ministers have consistently sought the most restrictive policy possible on GM crops, within EU law.
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Tighter Wales GM rules expected
BBC News, 24 February 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/wales_politics/7906439.stm
Plans for strict new rules on the planting of genetically modified crops in Wales are expected to be announced.
Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones is due to tell AMs that "co-existence" regulations between GM, organic and conventional crops should be toughened.
Welsh ministers have consistently sought the most restrictive policy possible on GM crops, within EU law.
The assembly government cannot ban the planting of approved GM crops but can make regulations to stop contamination.
Those regulations can limit the ways in which those crops can be planted, harvested, and processed in order to avoid any contamination of non-GM crops, and possible damage to the livelihoods of other farmers.
It is understood the rules being proposed are intended to be stricter than those in other parts of the UK.
A consultation on the plans is expected to begin in the Spring.
In 2000 AMs voted unanimously to keep Wales GM-free.