Government delays GM crops

19 February 1999

Government delays GM crops

By FWi staff

THE government has finally delayed the commercial planting of genetically modified (GM) crops after a week of intense pressure from environmental campaigners.

Michael Meacher, environment minister, said yesterday that GM crops would not be planted commercially until the government is convinced they pose no risk to wildlife.

The news effectively delays planting until at least 2001 and means it is unlikely that GM crops will be grown commercially before the next general election.

The governments position was made clear by five Cabinet ministers in a five-page letter and 50-page factfile about GM foods sent to every Labour MP.

The letter says that a moratorium on commercial planting would breach European law but it stresses that individual varieties of GM crops will be banned if trials show they damage the environment.

The government line was given widespread media coverage but did not stop several newspapers from pursuing their own investigations of the story.

Both The Times and The Guardian report heavily on a report published yesterday by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment.

The governments advisers on GM crops stress the need to examine the impact of the crops on farming and wildlife and warns of possible dangers to the environment.

The Independent leads its coverage of the issue with a critical analysis by one scientist of the research at the centre of the row over GM food.

The scientist finds “serious failings” with the work of Dr Arpad Pusztai, who claims that rats suffered damaged immune systems when fed with GM potatoes.

Against this background, the Financial Times reports from America and concludes that US consumers are much less concerned about GM foods than their European counterparts.

• Government could delay GM crops, FWi, 17 February, 1999
• The Times 19/02/99 page 1, page 2, page 12, page 23 (Leader, Letters), page 39 (Media)
  
• The Guardian 19/02/99 page 1, page 2, page 9, page 18, page 19 (Editorial)
  
• The Independent 19/02/99 page 1, page 4, page 9 (The Friday Review)
• Financial Times 19/02/99 page 11, page 20
  
• The Daily Telegraph 19/02/99 page 1, page 13
  
• The Herald 19/02/99 page 9