Wales acts to protect farmers from GM crops

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NEWS FROM WALES
1.GM-free zones to 'protect' farmers
2.Wales acts to protect farmers from GM crops
3.Announcement of plans for tight regulation of GM crops in Wales
4.Welsh Assembly announces proposals for strict GM controls
5.Minister plans stringent restrictions on the growing of GM crops
6.FUW leader welcomes assembly's GMO control proposals
7.Consultation on proposals for managing the co-existence of genetically modified, conventional and organic crops in Wales
8.Announcement of plans for tight regulation of GM crops in Wales
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1.GM-free zones to 'protect' farmers
Andrew Forgrave
Daily Post [UK], 2 July 2009
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/farming-north-wales/farming-news/2009/07/02/gm-free-z ones-to-protect-farmers-55578-24053650/

WELSH farm leaders have welcomed tough new proposals to tighten controls on genetically modified crops.

The Assembly Government wants GM-free zones in Wales and a ban on GM crops in national parks and SSSIs [Sites of Special Scientific Interest].

Also proposed is strict liability for GM crop growers, and a new voluntary industry-funded compensation scheme. Cardiff will even consider a statutory scheme.

The Farmers Union of Wales said it backed measures which protected growers of traditional crops from accidental contamination by genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

FUW president Gareth Vaughan said the industry had invested heavily on added-value food products.

"Going down the GMO route will quickly lead to us losing that competitive edge," he said. Rural affairs minister Elin Jones admitted she could not declare the whole of Wales GM-free - but policies would be as restrictive as possible.

The new proposals are in addition to the Environmental Damage regulations, introduced in April, which make growers liable for contamination.

Also planned is a national statutory GM crop register with public access. Growers would need Assembly permission three months before planting, and would have to inform neighbours. Record keeping would compulsory, as would training for those who handled GM crops.

The consulation is open until September 22.
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2.Wales acts to protect farmers of traditional & conventional crops from GM crops
Public Management Journal, 2 July 2009
http://www.sourceuk.net/article/13/13387/wales_acts_to_protect_farmers_of_traditional__conventional_crops_from_gm_crops.htmllink

Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones has published proposed measures, for consultation, to protect farmers of traditional & conventional crops from the possible economic disadvantages of accidental contamination from GM crops.

Views are being sought on proposals including the imposition of strict liability on GM crop growers, a statutory redress mechanism, GM-free zones and a prohibition on GM crop cultivation in National Parks and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

Elin Jones said:

"The Welsh Assembly Government's long-standing position is to adopt the most restrictive policy on GM crops that is compatible with European Union and UK legislation. It is not legally possible to declare Wales GM-free, but we will continue our restrictive approach.

I am committed to maintaining consumers right to choose food without GM presence and the ability of farmers in Wales to grow organic and conventional crops free from GM contamination.

The intention is for co-existence to be tightly regulated in Wales. Our proposed measures will be more restrictive than those proposed in England and Northern Ireland."

In addition to the implicit need for consultation with neighbours, in order to ensure compliance with separation distances, it is also proposed that there will be a statutory requirement to inform all neighbours & landowners.

The proposed measures include options for imposing strict liability on GM crop growers and introducing a voluntary industry funded compensation scheme. Consideration is also given to an option for a statutory redress mechanism.

Views are also being sought on:
*GM-Free Zones
*the desirability of a statutory prohibition on GM crop cultivation in all statutory conservation areas such as National Parks and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

On a GM Crop Register, the government propose a statutory national register with public access. GM crops will require registration with the Welsh Assembly Government 3 months prior to planting.

In addition to the implicit need for consultation with neighbours, in order to ensure compliance with separation distances, it is also proposed that there will be a statutory requirement to inform all neighbours and landowners.

In addition, it is proposed within the consultation document that record keeping should be a statutory requirement for GM producers, as will training for all on-farm handlers of GM crops.

The Field Measures being proposed are based on the average arable field size in Wales of fewer than 3 hectares. Significant isolation distances between GM and non-GM crops and buffer zones incorporating pollen barriers or traps are also proposed.

On Seed Thresholds, views are sought on whether the present 0.1% default seed threshold should be retained, as many Member States' separation distances have been established on that basis.

These proposals are also complemented by the recent Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) (Wales) Regulations 2009 that came into force in April this year.

These regulations will make growers and consent holders liable for any environmental damage they might cause and is in line with the polluter pays principle.

These regulations together with our coexistence proposals will help protect the wider countryside from any unintended environmental damage from GM crops.

The consultation closes on 22 September 2009.

Further information

Consultation on proposals for managing the co-existence of genetically modified, conventional and organic crops in Wales
http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/environmentandcountryside/090630coexistenceofc rops/?lang=en
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3.Announcement of plans for tight regulation of Genetically Modified crops in Wales
Welsh Assembly Government, 1 July 2009
http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/ecnewsevents/ralatestnews/ 090630gmcrops/?lang=en

Elin Jones has published proposed measures to protect farmers of traditional and conventional crops from the possible economic disadvantages of accidental contamination from Genetically Modified (GM) crops.

The measures are published in the document "Consultation on Proposals for Managing the Coexistence of GM, Conventional and Organic Crops in Wales". Views are being sought on proposals including:

*the imposition of strict liability on GM crop growers,
*a statutory redress mechanism,
*GM-free zones, and;

*a prohibition on GM crop cultivation in National Parks and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

Elin Jones, the Minister for Rural Affairs said:

The Welsh Assembly Government's long-standing position is to adopt the most restrictive policy on GM crops that is compatible with European Union and UK legislation. It is not legally possible to declare Wales GM-free, but we will continue our restrictive approach.

I am committed to maintaining consumers right to choose food without GM presence and the ability of farmers in Wales to grow organic and conventional crops free from GM contamination.

The intention is for co-existence to be tightly regulated in Wales. Our proposed measures will be more restrictive than those proposed in England and Northern Ireland.

The proposed measures include options for imposing strict liability on GM crop growers and introducing a voluntary industry funded compensation scheme. Consideration is also given to an option for a statutory redress mechanism.

Views are also being sought on GM-Free Zones, the desirability of a statutory prohibition on GM crop cultivation in all statutory conservation areas such as National Parks and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

On a GM Crop Register, we propose a statutory national register with public access. GM crops will require registration with the Welsh Assembly Government 3 months prior to planting.

It is also proposed that there will be a statutory requirement to inform all neighbours and landowners.

In addition, it is proposed that it should be a statutory requirement for GM producers:

*to keep records, and;

*to ensure that everyone handling GM crops on the farm has been trained.

The Field Measures being proposed are based on the average arable field size in Wales of fewer than 3 hectares. Significant isolation distances between GM and non-GM crops and buffer zones incorporating pollen barriers or traps are also proposed.

On Seed Thresholds, views are sought on whether the present 0.1% default seed threshold should be retained. Many Member States' separation distances have been established on that basis.

These proposals are also complemented by the recent Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) (Wales) Regulations 2009 that came into force in April this year. These regulations will make growers and consent holders liable for any environmental damage they might cause and are in line with the polluter pays principle. These regulations together with our coexistence proposals will help protect the wider countryside from any unintended environmental damage from GM crops.
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4.Welsh Assembly announces proposals for strict GM controls
Barry Alston
Farmers Guardian, 30 June 2009
http://www.farmersguardian.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=27261

PROPOSED measures to protect farmers of traditional and conventional crops in Wales from the possible economic disadvantages of accidental contamination from GM crops have been announced by the Welsh Assembly.

Details are published in the document 'Consultation on Proposals for Managing the Coexistence of GM, Conventional and Organic Crops in Wales'.

In essence, views are being sought on proposals including the imposition of strict liability on GM crop growers, a statutory redress mechanism, GM-free zones and a prohibition on GM crop cultivation in National Parks and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

"The Welsh Assembly Government's long-standing position is to adopt the most restrictive policy on GM crops that is compatible with European Union and UK legislation," said Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones.

"It is not legally possible to declare Wales GM-free - but we will continue our restrictive approach.

"I am committed to maintaining consumers right to choose food without GM presence and the ability of farmers in Wales to grow organic and conventional crops free from GM contamination.

"The intention is for co-existence to be tightly regulated in Wales. Our proposed measures will be more restrictive than those proposed in England and Northern Ireland."

Proposals include options for imposing strict liability on GM crop growers and introducing a voluntary industry funded compensation scheme. Consideration is also given to an option for a statutory redress mechanism.

In addition, views are being sought on GM-free zones, the desirability of a statutory prohibition on GM crop cultivation in all statutory conservation areas.

"We also propose a statutory national register with public access. GM crops will also require registration with the Assembly three months prior to planting," added the Minister.

"In addition to the implicit need for consultation with neighbours, in order to ensure compliance with separation distances, it is also proposed that there will be a statutory requirement to inform all neighbours and landowners.

"Record keeping should also be a statutory requirement for GM producers, as will training for all on-farm handlers of GM crops."

She said the field measures being proposed were based on the average arable field size in Wales of fewer than 3 ha (1.21 acres).

Significant isolation distances between GM and non-GM crops and buffer zones incorporating pollen barriers or traps were also proposed.

Seed threshold views were also being sought as to whether the present 0.1 per cent default seed threshold should be retained, as many Member States' separation distances had been established on that basis.

The proposals complemented the Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) (Wales) Regulations 2009 that came into force in April which make growers and consent holders liable for any environmental damage they might cause in line with the polluter pays principle.

"These regulations together with our coexistence proposals will help protect the wider countryside from any unintended environmental damage from GM crops," said the Minister.

The consultation closes on September 22.

WELCOMING the GM consultation proposals, Farmers Union of Wales president, Gareth Vaughan, said Welsh food producers would quickly lose their competitive edge if genetically modified organisms were to be widely used.

"Our industry has spent a huge amount of money marketing branded Welsh produce - but going down the GM route will quickly lead to us losing that competitive edge so painstakingly built up," he said.

"Genetic modification is an emotive subject around which there remain major concerns, in the light of which the FUW was one of the first to call on the Assembly s to establish a GM-free Wales.

"Our view since 2000 has been that GMOs should only be tested in a controlled and regulated environment and responses from our 12 county branches have made it clear that the overwhelming majority of members maintain that GMOs would not bring any significant benefits to Welsh agriculture - but could be accompanied by significant risks."
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5.Minister plans stringent restrictions on the growing of GM crops
Steve Dube
Western Mail
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/countryside-farming-news/farming-news/2009/06/30/mi nister-plans-stringent-restrictions-on-the-growing-of-gm-crops-91466-24018866/

MEASURES to protect crops from contamination by genetically modified organisms were outlined yesterday by Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones.

The proposals, including strict liability on GM crop growers, a statutory redress mechanism, GM- free zones, a voluntary, industry-funded compensation scheme and a prohibition on GM crop cultivation in National Parks and Sites of Special Scientific Interest, now go out to public consultation.

Ms Jones said it was not legally possible to declare Wales GM- free, but the Welsh Assembly Government would continue with its long-standing position of adopting the most restrictive policy on GM crops. "I am committed to maintaining consumers' right to choose food without GM presence and the ability of farmers in Wales to grow organic and conventional crops free from GM contamination," she said. "The intention is for co-existence to be tightly regulated in Wales and our proposed measures will be more restrictive than those proposed in England and Northern Ireland."

The proposals include a statutory GM crop register with public access, with crops registered three months prior to planting. Neighbours will have to be informed.

The proposed field measures are based on the average arable field size in Wales of fewer than three hectares - about 7.5 acres. Significant isolation distances between GM and non-GM crops and buffer zones incorporating pollen barriers or traps are also proposed. Views are also being sought on whether the present 0.1% default seed threshold should be retained.

The proposals are complemented by the environmental damage regulations 2009 which came into force in Wales in April. Those make growers and consent holders liable for any environmental damage they might cause, in line with the "polluter pays" principle.
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6.FUW leader welcomes assembly's GMO control proposals
Farming UK, 30 June 2009
http://www.farminguk.com/news/FUW-leader-welcomes-assemblys-GMO-control-proposals16545.asp

Farmers' Union of Wales president Gareth Vaughan today welcomed Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) proposals to protect farmers of traditional and conventional crops from the possible economic disadvantages of accidental contamination from GM crops.

Views are being sought on the proposals published in a WAG document entitled "Consultation on Proposals for Managing the Coexistence of GM, Conventional and Organic Crops in Wales".

The proposals include the imposition of strict liability on GM crop growers, a statutory redress mechanism, GM-free zones and a prohibition on GM crop cultivation in National Parks and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

Welcoming the measures, Mr Vaughan said Welsh food producers would quickly lose their competitive edge if genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were used widely in the farming industry.

"The FUW was one of the first organisations to call on the National Assembly for Wales to establish a GM-free Wales and our view since 2000 has been that GMOs should only be tested in a controlled and regulated environment.

"Last year the FUW's milk and dairy produce committee held an internal consultation on the union's GMO policy position and a well attended debate on the issue took place at which both pro and anti-GMO scientists presented evidence to members.

"The subsequent responses received from our 12 county branches made it clear that the overwhelming majority of members maintain that GMOs would not bring any significant benefits to Welsh agriculture and that their premature release into the environment could be accompanied by significant risks.

"Our industry has spent a huge amount of money marketing food such as Welsh Lamb, Welsh Beef and Welsh eggs and the produce of farmers is becoming very highly respected. But going down the GMO route will quickly lead to us losing that competitive edge which we have so painstakingly built up."

Publishing the proposals, Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones said WAG's long-standing position is to adopt the most restrictive policy on GM crops compatible with European Union and UK legislation.

"It is not legally possible to declare Wales GM-free, but we will continue our restrictive approach. I am committed to maintaining consumers right to choose food without GM presence and the ability of farmers in Wales to grow organic and conventional crops free from GM contamination.

"The intention is for co-existence to be tightly regulated in Wales. Our proposed measures will be more restrictive than those proposed in England and Northern Ireland."

The consultation closes on September 22 this year.
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7.Consultation on proposals for managing the co-existence of genetically modified, conventional and organic crops in Wales
Welsh Assembly Government, 30 June 2009
http://wales.gov.uk/consultations/environmentandcountryside/090630coexistenceofcrops/;jsessionid=QpvWKNdXcwSG211RN3jVzHl14YxZfPJw791TfJ15NLVTWLT7L2Lc!514291769?lang=en

The Welsh Assembly Government is consulting on a proposed co-existence regime for Wales that would minimise any unwanted genetically modified (GM) material in non-GM crops. The start date of this consultation is 30 June 2009 and the closing date is 22 September 2009.

The regime would aim to ensure adventitious, or accidental, presence is below the 0.9% GM labelling threshold. We believe appropriate coexistence arrangements between GM and non-GM crops will allow farmers to make a practical choice between growing conventional, organic or GM crops.

In line with our GM crops policy, we are proposing options to introduce robust and effective measures. These will minimise the mixing of GM and non-GM crops and consider the economic impact associated with any mixing and any liability implications where economic loss or damage occurs. How to Respond to this Consultation

The commencement date of this consultation is 30 June 2009 and the closing date is 22 September 2009. Written responses should be sent by the closing date to:

Plant Health & Biotechnology Branch Welsh Assembly Government Crown Buildings Northgate Street Aberystwyth Or via e-mail to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Document Download (PDF)

Consultation on proposals for managing the co-existence of genetically modified, conventional and organic crops in Wales (English version)
http://wales.gov.uk/docs/drah/consultation/090630managingcoexistenceofgmcropsen. pdf
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8.Announcement of plans for tight regulation of GM crops in Wales
Welsh Assembly Government, 30 June 2009
http://wales.gov.uk/news/latest/090630gmcropsinwales/;jsessionid=QpvWKNdXcwSG211RN3jVzHl14YxZfPJw791TfJ15NLVTWLT7L2Lc!514291769?lang=en

Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones has published today (30 June) proposed measures to protect farmers of traditional and conventional crops from the possible economic disadvantages of accidental contamination from GM crops.

The measures are published in the document "Consultation on Proposals for Managing the Coexistence of GM, Conventional and Organic Crops in Wales". Views are being sought on proposals including the imposition of strict liability on GM crop growers, a statutory redress mechanism, GM-free zones and a prohibition on GM crop cultivation in National Parks and Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Elin Jones said:

"The Welsh Assembly Government's long-standing position is to adopt the most restrictive policy on GM crops that is compatible with European Union and UK legislation. It is not legally possible to declare Wales GM-free, but we will continue our restrictive approach.

"I am committed to maintaining consumers right to choose food without GM presence and the ability of farmers in Wales to grow organic and conventional crops free from GM contamination.

"The intention is for co-existence to be tightly regulated in Wales. Our proposed measures will be more restrictive than those proposed in England and Northern Ireland."

The proposed measures include options for imposing strict liability on GM crop growers and introducing a voluntary industry funded compensation scheme. Consideration is also given to an option for a statutory redress mechanism.

Views are also being sought on GM-Free Zones, the desirability of a statutory prohibition on GM crop cultivation in all statutory conservation areas such as National Parks and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

On a GM Crop Register, we propose a statutory national register with public access. GM crops will require registration with the Welsh Assembly Government 3 months prior to planting.

In addition to the implicit need for consultation with neighbours, in order to ensure compliance with separation distances, it is also proposed that there will be a statutory requirement to inform all neighbours and landowners.

In addition, it is proposed within the consultation document that record keeping should be a statutory requirement for GM producers, as will training for all on-farm handlers of GM crops.

The Field Measures being proposed are based on the average arable field size in Wales of fewer than 3 hectares. Significant isolation distances between GM and non-GM crops and buffer zones incorporating pollen barriers or traps are also proposed.

On Seed Thresholds, views are sought on whether the present 0.1% default seed threshold should be retained, as many Member States' separation distances have been established on that basis.

These proposals are also complemented by the recent Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) (Wales) Regulations 2009 that came into force in April this year. These regulations will make growers and consent holders liable for any environmental damage they might cause and is in line with the polluter pays principle. These regulations together with our coexistence proposals will help protect the wider countryside from any unintended environmental damage from GM crops.