UK: Genetic crops may be banned versus US You Say Tomato, I Say IGF-1

[Guest guest]

Dear CJD Voice,

FYI - forwarding of Beverly's vigilant observation " " You Say Tomato, I

Say IGF-1 " to the influential mai-not list.

Will be interesting to see whether Dolly's follow-up on this one raises

any interest from the ABC journos.

Best wishes etc., Lynette.

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>>>>

Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1998 10:13:35 +1000

To: mai-not@...

Subject: UK: Genetic crops may be banned versus US " You Say Tomato, I Say

IGF-1 "

Dear mai-not,

The following is news of growing UK opposition to the corporate takeover

of global food security.

FYI too ABCNEWS.com is running a poll to gather public opinion on the

labeling of genetically engineered food:

0000,0000,ffffhttp://www.abcnews.com/sections/living/Secon\

dOpinion/secondopinion.html

The running article accompanying the POLL, " You Say Tomato, I Say

IGF-1 " is a cut above your average mainstream " whitewasher " - what

splays me is that the number of voters is just 1,059!!

Where are all the critical voices from the US general populous?

Lynette.

..

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THE INDEPENDENT, London, October 10, 1998

Genetic crops may be

banned

By Arthur and McCarthy

The Government is considering a three-year

moratorium on the commercial planting of

genetically modified (GM) crops in Britain.

Yesterday, it summoned leaders of biotechnology

companies based in Britain, including the giant

Monsanto corporation, for talks about a voluntary

code, which would delay wide-scale planting of

transgenic crops at least until 2002.

Recommendations from yesterday's meeting will

be passed to the Environment minister

Meacher and the Food minister Jeff Rooker.

They will decide what action the Government

should take over the biotechnology companies'

plans.

The United Kingdom's first bioengineered crop,

an oilseed rape that can survive being dosed with

a specific weedkiller, is due to be grown and

harvested next year. Many more are waiting in the

wings, but the Government's wildlife adviser,

English Nature, believes the whole process should

be halted while essential research is carried out on

their possible effects on the environment.

The front-line crop, developed by the Belgian firm

Plant Genetic Systems, has been cleared for

growing in the European Union. It now only

requires British clearance for the herbicide

developed to go with it. That decision would

normally fall to Mr Rooker. However, it was

learnt last night that the Government has begun its

own review of the EU decision to see if it can be

reversed.

The latest moves follow mounting concern about

the possible health and environmental effects of

the new plants, which have this year been the

subject of an outspoken attack by Prince

and attacks by protest groups that have torn up

scores of plants at test sites.

Last July, English Nature called for the

moratorium, arguing that the use of stronger

weedkillers on crops genetically engineered to

tolerate them could have a " catastrophic " effect

because it could destroy other plant, bird and

insect life.

Last Monday, officials at the Department of the

Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR)

invited English Nature and environmental pressure

groups to restate their case to , head

of the DETR's biotechnology unit, and a senior

official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries

and Food. Yesterday, it was the turn of the

companies. Officials will now make

recommendations to their respective ministers.

A Monsanto spokesman said: " Some groups have

said that they want to move to a moratorium. The

purpose of the meeting is to let both sides voice

their opinions. Once those have been gathered, it

is up to Mr Meacher to take a view. We had not

planned commercial planting of crops until 2000. "

Earlier this year, Mr Meacher expressed qualms

about the advent of wide-scale commercial

planting of GM crops. " These are difficult issues,

in particular the wider indirect effect on fields, " he

said. " The allegation that it can lead to sterility of

fields obviously is a matter of great concern. "

Getting companies to agree to a moratorium

would be quicker - and legally easier - for the

Government than seeking a ban on an issue that is

largely controlled from Brussels.

GM crops have become politically important

since 1996, when Monsanto began planting soya

modified to resist its own herbicide in the United

States. It almost sparked a trade war with Europe

when the GM soya was exported without being

marked.

Growing consumer resistance in the UK and on

the Continent has led to labelling of foods made

from transgenic crops, but the governments in a

number of European countries - particularly

Germany and France - are resisting companies'

attempts to introduce new products.