GMW: BASF boss tells Wales get out of the EU!!!

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GMW: BASF boss tells Wales " get out of the EU " !!!

" GM WATCH " <info

Sat, 3 Jun 2006 11:51:15 +0100

 

 

 

 

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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EXCERPTS: " Now GM companies are effectively sticking two fingers up to

the people of Wales, telling them that they're going to have GM

anyway. "

 

" It is up to the people of Wales to decide whether they want to grow GM

crops in their fields - and overwhelmingly they do not. "

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Biotech boss slams GM-free Wales

David Williamson

Western Mail, Jun 3 2006

[url at end]

 

ONE of the world's leading figures in biotechnology has poured scorn on

the aim of Welsh politicians to have a nation free of

genetically-modified crops.

 

Hans Kast, chairman of EuropaBio - the political voice of the

biotechnology industry in Europe - and CEO of the plant science group

BASF, said

European countries which did not want approved GM goods " should not be

in the EU " .

 

He said, " We cannot accept a situation whereby these products are

proved safe and then countries say we do not want this product ... They

should get out of the EU and say we want to be on our own. "

 

When asked, in the interview for eupolitix.com, about the aspiration

for a GM-free Wales, he said, " I have not heard that the people of Wales

want to be GM free. Would Wales be allowed to say we don't want to have

cars? "

 

Mr Kast believes that the US will have a more competitive agriculture

industry unless Europe embraces biotechnology.

 

A Greenpeace spokesman said, " This shows once more how detached from

reality the GM industry really is. Wales has quite rightly decided to

declare itself a GM-free zone because these crops could cause

irreversible

environmental damage.

 

" Now GM companies are effectively sticking two fingers up to the people

of Wales, telling them that they're going to have GM anyway. If that

happens then organic farming in Wales could become a thing of the past. "

 

Mick Bates, environment spokesman for the Welsh Liberal Democrats,

said, " Wales' growing reputation for green, clean, organic farming is a

valuable niche for our farmers. It is up to the people of Wales to decide

whether they want to grow GM crops in their fields - and overwhelmingly

they do not. "

 

Elin Jones, Plaid's Shadow Minister for Countryside, said, " We believe

that growing GM crops in Wales would not offer any economic advantages

to the farming industry. Consumers throughout Europe have expressed

their opposition to GM produce, but what we are seeing is a growth in

demand for organic produce.

 

" Plaid Cymru believes that producers in Wales can benefit from being

able to market their produce as being GM-free. "

 

Brynle Williams, Conservative countryside spokesman, said, " Our policy

is to keep Wales GM-free... for the simple reason the agricultural

industry has had too many food scares over the last 20 years. "

 

An Assembly Government spokesman said, " [Our] policy is to take forward

the most restrictive approach to the commercialisation of GM crops that

is consistent with UK and EU law. This reflects concerns that have been

expressed about GM commercialisation and we are determined to protect

the rights of farmers and consumers in choosing what they grow and buy.

 

" We are therefore determined to take forward the most restrictive crop

policy possible through the introduction of a strict co-existence

regime between GM, traditional and organic forms of agriculture. "

 

url for this article:

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0300business/0100news/tm_objectid=17170433 & method\

=full & siteid=50082 & headline=biotech-boss-slams-gm-free-wales-name_page.html

 

 

 

 

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