CUNNINGHAM TO HEAD PROBE INTO GENE CROPS
PA 21.10.98 18:52
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By Karen Edwards, PA News
Prime Minister Tony Blair has personally asked one of his leading
ministers to lead a Government investigation into genetically
modified crops, it was announced today.
Minister for the Cabinet Office Dr Jack Cunningham has been asked
to chair a new Ministerial Group on Biotechnology and Genetic
Modification.
Dr Cunningham made the announcement during his Soil Association's
Lady Eve Balfour Memorial Lecture today.
He said the group had been briefed to "consider issues
relating to biotechnology, in particular those arising from
genetic modification".
A Cabinet Office spokesman tonight said: "It has been formed
because the Government needs to establish clear and firm policies
in a number of complex areas which cut across departmental
boundaries and which are also of great concern to the
public."
The aim is to boost the number of checks and the amount of up to
date information about the fast-moving new technology of
transgenic crops.
Environmentalists fear crops genetically engineered to tolerate
weed killers and pesticides could have a disastrous effect on the
food chain destroying other plant, bird and insect life.
Dr Cunningham also called on the organic movement to convince
farmers of the demand for organic food.
Environment Minister Michael Meacher and Food Safety Minister
Jeff Rooker spoke about the plans at a Lords select committee.
Mr Meacher said the Government's aim was to strike the right
balance between protecting the environment and human health on
one hand, and on the other, maintaining the proper degree of
certainty needed by business for the development of new products.
He said: "I think it is right to be cautious at this
relatively early stage of the use of the technology in the
environment and to make sure that for every product we have
practical evidence on safety before we take a decision to move to
commercialisation.
"We have reached agreement in principle with the plant
breeding industry for a programme of managed development of
herbicide tolerant GM crops whereby the first farm-scale
plantings are strictly limited and monitored for ecological
effects along with comparable plantings of conventional crops.
"The process will be underpinned by the strict guidelines
for best practice in using GM crops referred to by Jeff Rooker.
"The results of these farm-scale evaluations will be
carefully assessed before moving further.
"I feel it is extremely important that we do not travel
further down the road to commercialisation of GM crops before we
have this information. If, during this process, we find evidence
of harm we can take appropriate action."
Jonathan Curtoys, Agricultural Policy Officer with the RSPB said:
"These proposals will give a valuable breathing space to the
Government but should not be seen as giving the green light to
the GMO industry.
"Any attempt to release genetically modified crops on a
commercial scale before we have fully assessed the environment
impacts would be foolhardy."
Liberal Democrat Environment spokesman Norman Baker MP welcomed
the Government's agreement to the monitoring of GM crops the
setting up of a new Ministerial group - but said it was "too
little too late".
Mr Baker said: "Michael Meacher is doing his best, but these
recommendations are too little too late. Any moratorium on GM
crops should extend for five years, rather than one or three to
give time for conclusive research to be carried out."