 |
 |
GM Decisions should not be made behind closed doors without debate
February 20, 2004 4:06 PM
Sarah Ludford campaigning to allow consumers to choose whether to buy GM food
An expected decision by the Government to give the go-ahead to the widespread commercial planting of genetically-modified crops in Britain would be 'momentous, irreversible and irresponsible', according to London LibDem Euro-MP Baroness Sarah Ludford.
"Decisions on GM should be based on sound science, but the Government is giving the impression of rushing the decision in deference to the pressure of the US President and commercial interests" said Baroness Ludford. "The Tories have been silent on this issue for fear of upsetting GM businesses.
"We must follow the precautionary principle and wait to resolve the many areas of doubt. The crucial thing about GM is that it cannot be undone because cross-contamination cannot be stopped once it starts.
"Michael Meacher was sacked as environment minister because he was an obstacle to GM approval. Mr Meacher has pointed out that the Government has repeatedly suppressed scientific reports that raise questions about GM.
"This decision is far too important to be rushed through on the quiet" said Baroness Ludford.
Note
The Prime Minister's own strategy unit found little benefit in GM technology for Britain.
A review chaired by the PM's chief scientist concluded that genes from GM crops would contaminate conventional and organic produce, and that GM food could cause future health hazards.
Even the Government's own field trials, which concentrated on the effects of weedkillers, found that weedkillers sprayed on GM beet and oilseed rape so damaged wildlife that they had to be abandoned.
Reading University scientists say pollution of Britain's natural plant strains is inevitable once GM crops are planted, since a single year of planting will yield thousands of hybrids when wild plants and their GM equivalent mix.
Tests show that pollen contamination would spread for up to 16 miles and wild growth from just one crop would persist for more than a decade.
Related Links
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats