UK groups lobby farmers, ministry on gene crops
RTw 09.10.97 12:36
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LONDON, Oct 9 (Reuter) - British groups opposed to genetic
engineering planned on Thursday to urge farmers and government to
reject genetically modified crops.
A delegation of protesters planned to hand a letter to the
National Farmers' Union urging farmers to "unite with
consumers in rejecting genetically manipulated foodstuffs and
seed," the Genetic Engineering Network, which is
co-ordinating the action, said.
The letter was signed by "a wide range of consumer,
environmental and agricultural groups as well as wholefood
companies and individual farmers," it said in a statement.
The protesters will also hand a letter to the ministry of
agriculture.
The first British commercial genetically modified crop, rapeseed,
to be sown in spring 1998, may be approved before completion of
minimal trials, the network said.
"The environmental impact of genetically manipulated crops
and food safety concerns have not been properly addressed,"
it said.
"Genetic engineering is unnecessary, unsafe and
unwanted," spokeswoman Louise Simpson said.
Following recent developments concerning BSE, British farmers are
called to reject GM crops to prioritise food safety and restore
consumer confidence, the statement said.
The Genetic Engineering Network was a coalition of groups working
in the UK opposed to genetically modified crops, a spokeswoman
said.
A spokeswoman for the National Farmers Union said the NFU was
always delighted to hear from consumers. "We consider that
genetically modified crops are acceptable, subject to strict
government licensing based on independent advice with input from
consumers," she added.
The NFU aimed to meet demand from all its customers and to that
end had set up a code of practice designed to enable farmers to
keep modified and unmodified crops separate. "We are very
much for the accurate labelling of products so that consumers can
make a conscious choice," she said.