Friends of the Earth
Action Briefing April /May 1999
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Birmingham Friends of the Earth Action Briefing April /May 1999 |
The controversy surrounding genetically modified foods has been exhaustively covered by the media in past weeks. In a recent press release (31.03.99), national Friends of the Earth announced that they, and MPs from three major parties, have joined forces in suing the Government over an attempt to speed up the commercial growing of genetically modified food.
The case challenges a decision made in February by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. MAFF decided to accelerate the approval process for GM crops by bringing them under a 'non-statutory' seed approval scheme. This means that the scheme would not have to go to Parliament for approval, thus cutting about two years off the time needed before GM crops can be grown for human consumption.
At a meeting last week between FOE and MAFF officials, the Government was unable to give a legal defence of its non-statutory seed approval scheme. Friends of the Earth has been advised that the scheme is unlawful, and have sought a judicial review with the support of Norman Baker (Lib Dem, Lewes), John Randall (Con, Uxbridge) and Alan Simpson (Lab, Nottingham South). It has been suggested that this move is essential to the future development of GM crops in Britain.
Commenting on the case, FOE Legal Advisor Peter Roderick said:
For MPs of every major Party to be involved in a judicial review of a key Government decision is unprecedented and heartening. The Government have behaved outrageously by helping the biotech industry speed up GM food growing, behind Parliament's back and with no public support. MAFF has created a scheme with no legal basis to shave two years off the time it will take to grow GM food in Britain. Meanwhile the Government's spin-doctors have been claiming that they are listening to public opinion, and slowing the whole process down. The Government hoped to use the obscurity of seed law to sneak this decision past the public without anyone noticing. But this court case - and the vital decision of the MPs to back it - shows that they have been caught in the act.
It is apparent that the debate surrounding GM foods is far from over. Friends of the Earth continues to campaign for a full public debate on the need for GM foods, a commitment to sustainable methods of farming and food production, and an immediate five year moratorium on the commercial growing and marketing of GM foods in the UK and throughout the European Union. Watch this space for the results and implications of FOE's challenge to the Government's non-statutory seed approval scheme....
(Adapted from FOE Press Release 31.03.99)