17 March 2008
We received a petition asking:
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Declare the UK a GM-free zone."
Details of Petition:
"We the undersigned say no to the continued testing of genetically modified crops. We do not wish to have any GM crops grown in the UK or GM foods for sale in our shops. We retain the choice to have our crops and food chain uncontaminated by GM strains. GM CROPS WILL NOT FEED THE POOR. The truth is that the introduction of GM crops will result in decreased yields, crop failures and the impoverishment of literally billions of small farmers. Consider the following: 1) a US Department of Agriculture report published in May 2002 concluded that net yields of herbicide-tolerant soya bean were no higher than those of non-GM soya, and that yields of pest-resistant corn were actually lower than those of non-GM corn; 2) in September 2001, the state court of Mississippi ruled that a Monsanto subsidiary’s `high-yielding’ GM soya seeds were responsible for reduced yields obtained by Mississippi farmer Newell Simrall; the farmer was awarded damages of $165,742."
Read the Government’s response
The Government set out its policy on GM crops in a Parliamentary statement in 2004. This reflected a careful evaluation of all the available information, including reports from a public debate, science review and costs and benefits study. No other country has undertaken such a comprehensive assessment of the case for and against GM crops. Having weighed all the evidence, we concluded that the only sensible approach is to assess each GM crop on a case-by-case basis. The Government is not promoting this technology, but we have a duty as regulators to take proportionate and evidence-based decisions.
We have made it clear that our top priority is to protect human health and the environment. Under European Union (EU) legislation each proposed GM product is subject to a detailed risk assessment which involves careful scrutiny by independent scientists. An evaluation is made of all the risk factors that may arise, including possible toxic or allergenic effects and the likely consequences of any gene transfer. The Government will only agree to the commercial release of a GM crop if we are fully satisfied that it is safe. Our precautionary approach is illustrated by the decision we took not to support approval for two of the GM crops that we insisted should be subject to a carefully-managed programme of field trials.
We also strongly support people being able to choose between GM and non-GM products. Defra is developing ‘co-existence’ arrangements so that producers and consumers can distinguish between GM, conventional and organic crops, should approved GM varieties be grown here in due course. These arrangements will back up the existing EU legal requirements on the tracing and labelling of GM products throughout the food supply chain. Crops, products or individual food ingredients must be labelled as ‘GM’ if they: intentionally consist of GM organisms, however small the amount; have an adventitious GM presence above 0.9%; or are made from a genetically modified organism, even though they do not have a detectable GM content (e.g. oil processed from a GM crop).
We take public concerns seriously and are committed to effective regulation, a rigorous scrutiny process based on sound science, and clear and enforceable labelling rules to ensure people can make informed choices. Ultimately, it will be for farmers and consumers to decide via the normal operation of the market whether they want to buy GM seeds or finished products. If there is no market for them GM crops will not be grown.