Greenpeace today warned that the Government's announcement of a voluntary moratorium on commercial GM crop plantings until 2002 is in fact a way of continuing GM commercialization plans that have been derailed by public concern. Furthermore, it completely fails to protect the environment and food chain from the risk of GM contamination.
Greenpeace campaigner Sarah North said: "This is the Government's last ditched attempt to keep the commercial growing of GM crops on the agenda. The Government and biotech companies have been forced to resort to this "fake moratorium" because of overwhelming rejection of GM food by the public and the food industry. Moreover it offers false hope by suggesting that farm-scale experiments will provide breathing space for objective debate; they don't - the so-called 'trials' will actually mean more GM crops in the ground than ever before, more risk of GM contamination and the possibility of these trial crops reaching the food chain via animal feed".
The Government would not deny charges today that the GM crops from the farm scale trials could be added to animal feed for consumption by cows, pigs, chickens and other livestock. Furthermore, despite the 'moratorium', the Government has given permission to agrochemical companies to approximately 12,000 acres of oil seed rape crops alone next spring in the name of science. These farm-scale trials risk irreversible genetic pollution of the environment and the contamination of conventional and organic crops and honey.
As it is voluntary, the 'moratorium' depends entirely on the co-operation of the beleaguered agrochemical industry. It does not stop GM crops being planted in the UK or the continued import of GM crops that are used extensively in animal feed.
Such is consumer and food producer opposition to GM food, it is unlikely that GM crops would be planted if dictated by market forces. "This voluntary moratorium is simply a political holding operation whilst Blair's Government hopes to turn around public opinion. This way, the government keeps alive the possibility of a GM crop industry that it so desperately wants, despite the firm rejection by consumers - but consumers aren't buying GM food and won't buy this moratorium either. If the Government were serious about protecting the environment and our food, they would ban GM crops now," added North.
Notes to Editors:
In the next two months, the UK Government and other EU representatives will vote on whether to give the commercial go-ahead for two varieties of GM oilseed rape produced by AgrEvo, one of which is used in the farm-scale trials. Although EU countries such as France, Greece and Austria are upholding a de-facto moratorium on new GM approvals, the UK government may well vote in favour these new crops. Whilst the trials are happening the companies are able to get the regulatory hurdles cleared.
Further information:
Contact the Greenpeace press office on 020 7865 8255
