Friends of the Earth Press Release
Government officials have informed Friends of the Earth that they will advise Ministers in a meeting tomorrow not to block the commercial licensing of genetically modified (GM) seeds. The meeting is taking place after the European Commission wrote to Member States last week urging them to give the go-ahead for GM seeds to be put on the EU register - the Common Catalogue. This would allow farmers to buy GM seeds throughout Europe before the completion of the farm scale trials.
The proposal quite clearly puts the Commission at odds with the European Parliament which has declared a de facto moratorium on the further commercial development of GM crops until stricter rules are put in place.
Friends of the Earth is leading the campaign to stop GM seeds being given commercial licences whilst research into their environmental effects is incomplete and issues such as cross-pollination lie unresolved. FOE is also concerned that if GM seeds are put onto the proposed EU Common Catalogue it will bypass UK citizens' right to demand a public hearing to object to any seed listing in this country.
Adrian Bebb of Friends of the Earth Food Campaigner said: "It appears that the Government is happy to go along with the Commission's plan to speed up the commercial growing of GM crops. Ministers should refuse to accept these demands outright. It is quite clear that many of these crops pose a threat to the environment, farmers and beekeepers. Allowing commercial licences before these issues are resolved shows that the biotech industry is still calling the tune."
Next week a Government committee will consider an application for GM maize to be added to the UK's National Seed List - the first time a GM crop has been put forward for commercial licensing in this country. National Seed Listing is the final regulatory hurdle that a GM seed has to clear before it can be commercially grown in the UK. FOE revealed last week that eight varieties of GM seed could be added to the National Seed List in 2000, and that at least 24 GM varieties are in the pipeline for approval before the completion of the Government's farm scale trials.
