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wednesday 5 march 2003
FRIENDS OF THE EARTH SLAMS EU PLANS FOR
GROWING GM CROPS
BRUSSELS - Friends of the Earth has
attacked EU Commission plans, launched today
by Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler,
to allow GM crops to be grown along side
conventional and organic crops. The
controversial plans for the co-existence of
GM, conventional and organic crops say
that:
• non-GM farmers such as organic producers
would end up paying for taking measures to
prevent GM contamination. Research last year
showed that the costs for organic growers
could increase by 41%.
• co-existence is only an economic
problem. It ignores the environmental
consequences of GM contamination or the
impact it will have on consumer choice.
European scientists have already stated that
if GM crops are grown on a large scale then
consumer choice will be threatened.
• GM-Free areas or countries should be
"excluded". The number of areas and regions
wishing to be GM free are growing throughout
Europe [1]. The Commission, whilst agreeing
that this is an effective way of reducing GM
contamination, opposes such moves.
The Commission also hints strongly that
contamination of organic foods by GMOs should
be permitted. Under current EU law, no
contamination of organic food by GM material
is allowed. European consumers have already
made their opposition to GM foods clear with
71% saying they do not want it.
In his final remarks Franz Fischler states
that for crops such as oilseed rape and
maize, “measures to ensure co-existence could
involve significant changes in farming
practices.” This is stated without assessing
the financial, practical and legal
implications of the changes.
Friends of the Earth’s GM campaigner Pete
Riley said said: “These dreadful proposals
would give the biotech industry a licence to
pollute our food, farming and the
environment. European consumers have made it
clear that they don’t want GM crops – but if
Mr Fischler gets his way we will have to pay
much more to avoid eating them. Growing GM
crops will cause chaos in the
countryside.
Farmers will be in conflict with each
other over the right to grow GM-free crops.
The Commission must make it absolutely clear
that the cost of GM pollution must be paid by
biotech firms and those growing GM crops, and
not by non-GM farmers and consumers.”
Contact:
Pete Riley in the UK +44-7712 843 210
(m)
Geert Ritsema, Friends of the Earth Europe,
in Brussels +32-2-42 0182
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