Fwd: GMO controversy continues in UK

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" News Update from The Campaign "

GMO controversy continues in UK

Wed, 24 Sep 2003 04:38:18 -0500

 

News Update From The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods

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Dear News Update Subscribers,

 

Genetically engineered foods are getting lots of coverage lately in the

United Kingdom newspapers.

 

Debate results, suppressed reports and leaked letters are all fueling

the media attention. This e-mail will provide some background

information and summarize the recent developments in the European Union

and the United Kingdom. Plus, there is an update about Brazil.

 

EUROPEAN UNION

 

The European Union has had a moratorium on the commercial development of

genetically engineered foods since 1998. The moratorium stopped U.S.

shipments of genetically engineered corn and soy into the 15 European

Union (EU) countries. Upset about the lost of exports, earlier this year

the United States filed a World Trade Organization (WTO) case against

the EU.

 

The EU recently passed strict new labeling legislation that will be

going into effect soon and the moratorium will be removed next year. The

European Commission has determined that each EU nation will be able to

determine their own guidelines to regulate the commercial growing of

genetically engineered crops. One area of major controversy is concern

about contamination of organic crops from cross pollination and

liability for such contamination.

 

UNITED KINGDOM

 

The United Kingdom has had numerous research and public opinion

activities going on for months and even years. However, leaked letters

from Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett to Cabinet colleagues

indicated she will support the EU proposals to regulate the commercial

growing of genetically engineered crops.

 

The fact that Environment Secretary Beckett has already made up her mind

to support EU proposals in advance of the release of several UK reports

has upset environmentalists and some noted scientists. They feel that

Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Science Minister Lord Sainsbury have

long planned for rapid commercialization of genetically engineered

crops. However, the results of the reports that will soon be released

are going to make such plans quite unpopular.

 

On Wednesday, the results of 600 public meetings about genetically

engineered foods held in the UK during June and July will be published.

The comments of 40,000 people are expected to show strong opposition to

the commercialization of genetically engineered crops.

 

Further, in October the results of 200 crop trials conducted over three

years will be published in eight technical reports. The results are

expected to show that genetically engineered crops can harm wildlife.

However, the summary of the eight technical reports is being rejected by

the Royal Society. The summary is considered to be the most important of

all the reports, so this has further fueled allegations that the Royal

Society is biased in favor of biotech foods.

 

Posted below are five articles that cover various aspects of the growing

controversy in the United Kingdom.

 

The first article from the BBC is titled " GM debate results to be

published. " The second article is from The Independent titled " Royal

Society rejects 'anti-GM' report. " The third article from The Journal is

titled " Scientist's worst fears confirmed. " The fourth article from The

Independent is titled " Leaked letters show Government backs commercial

growing of GM crops. " And the fifth article is from The Guardian titled

" Legal grey area delays GM crop decision. "

 

BRAZIL

 

I am including a sixth article that discusses developments in Brazil.

The president of Brazil will probably rule on Wednesday about whether he

will allow genetically engineered soybeans to be grown in one state. The

Associated Press article is titled " Brazil to Decide on Modified

Soybeans. "

 

Craig Winters

Executive Director

The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods

 

The Campaign

PO Box 55699

Seattle, WA 98155

Tel: 425-771-4049

Fax: 603-825-5841

E-mail: label

Web Site: http://www.thecampaign.org

 

Mission Statement: " To create a national grassroots consumer campaign

for the purpose of lobbying Congress and the President to pass

legislation that will require the labeling of genetically engineered

foods in the United States. "

 

***************************************************************

 

GM debate results to be published

Public views on genetically modified crops are to be published.

 

BBC NEWS

2003/09/24 03:33:03 GMT

 

The results of a nationwide debate encompassing 600 meetings held in

June and July around the country are due to be released on Wednesday.

 

Environmental groups expect the report to reflect widespread doubts

about the benefits of GM technology.

 

The government has promised to consider the 40,000 public responses

before deciding whether to go ahead with commercial GM crops.

 

The meetings were organised by the GM Debate Steering Board and chaired

by Professor Malcolm Grant.

 

Tough choices

 

Responses have been evaluated and an analysis has been drawn up to

demonstrate feelings about the technology.

 

Regional events from Inverness and the Scottish Islands to Cornwall and

the Isle of Wight ran from 3 June to 18 July and were made up of three

elements.

 

They were a science review, an economic assessment and the debate

itself.

 

Friends of the Earth said the report was expected to confirm widespread

scepticism towards GM crops.

 

If that is the case, it will create a dilemma for the government and

make awkward reading for biotechnology companies seeking to sell their

GM seeds to British farmers.

 

The environmental group said a number of key ministers were known to

favour GM commercialisation.

 

A decision on whether or not to give commercial GM crops the go-ahead is

due later this year.

 

The results of a three-year farm scale evaluation of GM crops are due

next month.

 

***************************************************************

 

Royal Society rejects 'anti-GM' report

 

By Severin Carrell

The Independent (London)

21 September 2003

 

The Government's GM crop trials have been hit by a scientific row after

the Royal Society refused to publish a crucial report on the tests.

 

In one of the most eagerly awaited scientific announcements for decades,

the official results of the exhaustive farm-scale tests on three GM

crops are due to be published by the Royal Society on 16 October.

 

The results, after three years of trials of GM maize, oilseed rape and

sugar beet at some 200 sites, are expected to reveal that GM crops can

harm wildlife. The results will play a crucial role in dictating

government policy on GM foods.

 

But the society has infuriated the scientists who ran the trials by

rejecting one of their reports, which explains and summarises the

complex results of the eight technical reports that it will be

publishing next month. The row will reignite allegations that the Royal

Society is biased in favour of GM foods.

 

A senior source familiar with the trials said this paper was the most

important and accessible document of all.

 

The society insisted that Professor Samir Zeki, who edits its journal,

was advised by the scientists who peer-reviewed the controversial paper

not to publish it because it contained no new data.

 

Michael Meacher, the former environment minister who originally set up

the crop trials, said the refusal to publish the overview paper would

" arouse suspicions " about the society's motives.

 

***************************************************************

 

Scientist's worst fears confirmed

 

By Amanda Crook, Health Correspondent

The Journal (United Kingdom)

Sep 22 2003

 

A North scientist who quit a top-level Government panel on GM food last

night said his worst fears were confirmed by leaked reports that the

Government plans to back the controversial crops.

 

Professor Carlo Leifert spoke of his frustration following reports that

the Government plans to back EU rules which would give the green light

to the commercial growing of Genetically Modified crops.

 

But he said he would continue his research work to persuade people of

the problems with the technology.

 

Prof Leifert, a professor of ecological agriculture at Newcastle

University, quit a high-profile Government food panel in July because he

felt it was only set up to rubber stamp the controversial technique. He

said he was not convinced GM food was safe and accused the panel of not

investigating concerns enough.

 

Last night he said he was disappointed to learn that a leaked exchange

of ministerial letters demonstrates that ministers will support Brussels

moves to ban GM-free zones and allow the " co-existence " of GM with

conventional crops. The correspondence, published yesterday, comes ahead

of the publication next month of the results of GM crop trials in

Britain.

 

Dr Leifert, who is continuing his research into GM foods with the hope

of convincing more people to treat the technology with caution, said:

" This is exactly what I was convinced of when I left the panel. It is

frustrating but unfortunately it is not unexpected.

 

He added: " Unfortunately this is the way governments behave. If we had

looked at the evidence and not rushed into using pesticides scientists

would not have had to waste so much time correcting the problems they

have caused. If we had not rushed into atomic power we would have 20pc

of our energy being produced by wind turbines now. "

 

Prof Leifert left the GM Science Review Panel saying he was not prepared

to put his name to their findings and expressing concern that members of

the powerful biotech companies Monsanto and Syngenta dominated the

24-person panel.

 

Yesterday's leaked letter from Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett to

Cabinet colleagues indicated that she will support the EU proposals at a

meeting of EU agriculture ministers at the end of the month.

 

She wrote: " I am proposing we broadly support the (European)

Commission's guidelines as providing a reasonable basis to address the

issue. "

 

She attached a summary of the EU rules, which state that " no form of

agriculture (conventional, organic, GM) should be excluded from the EU " .

 

In reply, Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt stated: " I agree

that our interests are best served by giving broad support to the

Commission guidelines. We must also bear in mind the potential impact

(on) EU-US relations. "

 

A five-year moratorium by the EU on GM crops resulted in friction

between the EU and the US, where GM technology was pioneered.

 

A Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesman

declined comment on the leaked correspondence.

 

***************************************************************

 

Leaked letters show Government backs commercial growing of GM crops

 

By Andrew Johnson

The Independent (London)

22 September 2003

 

The Government has been accused of " caving in " to the United States and

big business after leaked letters revealed it plans to support the

commercial growing of genetically modified crops in Europe.

 

A five-year moratorium on the commercial use of GM technology in Europe,

which has been a bone of contention between the EU and America, ends

next year. Although the results of GM crop trials in Britain are not due

to be published until next month, the letters reveal the Government is

prepared to back moves in Brussels to ban GM-free zones and allow the

" co-existence " of GM with conventional crops.

 

A 5 September letter from Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett to

Cabinet colleagues indicated she will support EU proposals at a meeting

of EU agriculture ministers at the end of the month.

 

She wrote: " I am proposing that we broadly support the (European)

Commission's guidelines as providing a reasonable basis to address the

issue. " She attached a summary of the EU rules, which state " no form of

agriculture (conventional, organic, GM) should be excluded from the EU " .

 

In reply, Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt stated: " I agree

that our interests are best served by giving broad support to the

Commission guidelines. We must also bear in mind the potential impact on

EU-US relations. "

 

But Friends of the Earth GM campaigner Clare Oxborrow said: " The

Government's consultation on GM crops revealed they are unnecessary,

unpopular and offer no economic benefit. But, despite this overwhelming

thumbs-down, they still seem determined to press ahead with their

commercialisation. If this happens it will lead to extensive

contamination and take away people's right to choose GM-free food. There

is widespread support throughout Britain and the EU for GM-free zones,

and European law allows this.

 

" The Government should back UK local authorities which are using

legislation to protect their food, farming and environment from GM

contamination, rather than caving in to pressure from the US government

and its biotech backers. "

 

Shadow trade and industry secretary Tim Yeo added: " Allowing commercial

planting of GM crops while scientific doubts remain about their

environmental impact is bad science, bad business and bad for the

environment. Ministers are being pressed by their friends in business to

make a decision before the full analysis has been completed.

 

Liberal Democrat agriculture spokesman Andrew George said: " This leak

confirms the Government has made up its mind in favour of GM,

pre-judging the outcome of their own farm-scale trials that are not

going to report until the end of October. "

 

A Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesman

declined to comment on the leaked correspondence but he stressed that

all EU member states would have to reach agreement before any GM crop

could be cultivated commercially, and there was no expectation that any

crop would come up for discussion until next year.

 

" So no decision has been taken either on coexistence or on commercial

growing, " the spokesman said.

 

***************************************************************

 

Legal grey area delays GM crop decision

Ministers back EU stance, but no agreement is likely till next year

 

Paul Brown, environment correspondent

Monday September 22, 2003

The Guardian (London)

 

Decisions on the commercial growing of genetically modified crops cannot

be taken until next year at the earliest, because environmental and

legal rules have yet to be worked out, the government said yesterday.

 

Although Tony Blair and Lord Sainsbury, the science minister, had hoped

that GM crops could be grown alongside ordinary crops as soon as

possible, continued public opposition and legal obstacles are making

this less and less likely.

 

In a letter to her cabinet colleagues, Margaret Beckett, the environment

secretary, urged them to support the EU stance that it is up to each

member country to decide on the separation distances required between

conventional crops and GM crops, and the liability regime if GM crops

contaminate ordinary or organic crops and make them unsaleable.

 

In the letter, Mrs Beckett indicated that she would back the EU

proposals at a meeting of European agriculture ministers at the end of

the month.

 

She wrote: " I am proposing that we broadly support the [European]

commission's guidelines as providing a reasonable basis to address the

issue. " She attached a summary of the EU rules, which state that " no

form of agriculture (conventional, organic, GM) should be excluded from

the EU " .

 

In reply, the trade and industry secretary, Patricia Hewitt, said: " I

agree that our interests are best served by giving broad support to the

commission guidelines. We must also bear in mind the potential impact

[on] EU-US relations. "

 

However, this does not mean the introduction of crops is imminent. In

the next three weeks the results of the government's public consultation

on GM crops is likely to be published, showing continuing hostility and

resistance to their early introduction.

 

There is also the result of the three years of crop trials in which

scientists tried to establish whether GM crops had any more detrimental

effect on the environment than conventional farming. The results are

believed to be inconclusive.

 

Both reports could make uncomfortable reading for the prime minister,

who wants an early introduction of GM crops to appease the biotech

companies and the US, but is supposed to be listening to the views of

ordinary people.

 

But the crucial issues are crop separation and liability. If the

government decides that separation distances can be small and

contamination occurs, who will the injured farmer claim against - his

neighbour or the government that created the rules in the first place?

 

This question has so far left government advisers flummoxed. A Cabinet

Office report said that if farmers and protesters thought organic or

conventional farming would be damaged by GM crops, and there was no

proper legal redress, it would be an invitation for anarchy and the

destruction of the GM crops before they caused damage.

 

A Department of Environment spokesman said: " Mrs Beckett was merely

informing cabinet colleagues of the EU position and suggesting the UK

support it, and ministers agreed.

 

" There are a lot of difficult decisions to be made and each member state

has to make them to suit the conditions in their own country. It won't

be until next year that any permissions can be given for EU member

states to grow GM crops.

 

" Then every country, including the UK, will decide what conditions suit

our particular circumstances for each crop - if any. "

 

***************************************************************

 

Brazil to Decide on Modified Soybeans

 

By ALAN CLENDENNING

The Associated Press

09/19/03 20:22 EDT

 

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) - Brazil's president will decide within days

whether to legalize genetically modified soybeans planted in a key

southern agricultural state where 70 percent of the crop is now

cultivated illegally.

 

A decision by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva giving the

government's blessing to the planting would be a victory for U.S.-based

Monsanto Co., which wants to sell its Roundup Ready soybean seeds in

South America's largest country and recoup lost profits from widespread

illicit use.

 

It would also be a defeat for environmental groups like Greenpeace

lobbying to keep in place a Brazilian ban on use of genetically modified

seeds because of suspicions they could harm the environment.

 

Rio Grande do Sul Governor Germano Rigotto met with Silva Friday to

discuss the issue, and issued a statement later saying he believed Silva

would approve an emergency measure allowing use of the seeds in planting

scheduled to begin in several weeks.

 

``The solution must be immediate because the producers are saying there

are not enough conventional soybeans for this harvest,'' Rigotto said.

 

Silva spokesman Andre Singer said Silva would issue a decision soon, but

declined comment on whether the planting will be legalized.

 

Brazilian growers use seeds smuggled from neighboring countries, then

grow more on their own land. The Brazilian government rarely enforces

the law, and experts estimate 17 percent of the country's soybean crop

are grown from the seeds.

 

Brazil harvested about 52 million metric tons of soybeans during the

2002-2003 season, making it the second largest producer after the United

States. It is expected to surpass the United States soon.

 

Greenpeace spokeswoman Doreen Stabinsky said a Silva decision in favor

legalizing the Rio de Grande do Sul planting would be ``misguided'' but

doesn't mean Silva will seek to have the seeds legalized throughout the

country.

 

Monsanto has complained bitterly for years about Brazilian farmers using

the company's technology without paying for it. Monsanto has also been

lobbying the Brazilian government to legalize genetically engineered

crops.

 

The company's soy seed is engineered to withstand the spraying of

herbicides, which saves farmers money by cutting down on the number of

workers and weed killers needed.

 

Monsanto shares dropped 33 cents Friday to close at $25.25 on the New

York Stock Exchange.

 

 

 

 

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