Press Release

Become a Golden Supporter

For Immediate Release: Friday 25th April 2003

Make Birmingham GM-Free!
Local Election Candidates Back Anti-GM Resolution

Candidates and councillors in one third of the wards in Birmingham have publicly expressed their support for a completely GM Free Birmingham. Birmingham already has an anti GM policy, but this is a clear demonstration of the political will to remove GM altogether. 18 candidates and existing councillors from across the political spectrum have supported the draft resolution produced by Friends of the Earth, which commits Birmingham to becoming a GM Free city. All but one of them are standing for election or re-election in the local elections this May.

Birmingham Friends of the Earth has been questioning the election candidates about the GM issue throughout the election campaign, running stalls and gaining significant public support in the form of a petition to be presented to the new leader of the council following the elections on May 1st.

A growing number of local authorities around the country have already voted to go GM-free. [1] Only yesterday Dorset County Council became the latest to voice deep concerns over GM (Genetically Modified) crops and food. Meanwhile GM remains deeply unpopular. A survey in the Grocer in September 2002 found that 58 per cent of those questioned said they would avoid products containing GM ingredients. And an NOP poll for Friends of the Earth, published on the same day, revealed that 63 per cent of honey buyers wanted it to be GM-free.

The GM-Free Britain campaign comes at a crucial time in the GM debate. Over the next year or so the Government will decide whether to allow GM crops to be commercially grown across the UK. If it does, it would lead to widespread GM contamination of our food, crops and environment, and remove peoples' right to say no to GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms).

Birmingham Friends of the Earth is calling on Birmingham City Council to:

1. write to the European Commission and the Government asking them to prevent particular GM crops being grown in their area to protect the environment; [2]
   
2. ensure that no GM crops are grown on land which they control;
   
3. adopt a GM-free policy for all goods and services for which the authority is responsible, for example ensuring that school caterers provide GM-free food to schools.

Simon Ware, GM Campaigner for Birmingham Friends of the Earth, said:
"It's fantastic that the GM campaign has gained cross party support. If we don't act now to stop commercialisation of GM crops we may regret it for generations to come. We need to call a halt to the commercial use of GM crops until we know it's safe and have put controls in place to protect local livelihoods and choices at home and abroad. We are asking people to raise this issue with their local candidates, and for those candidates who have already committed themselves to honour that commitment and pass the resolution should they be elected".

Talib Hussain, Lib Dem candidate for Sparkbrook, said:
"There is no proof that GM food is safe or beneficial for people in this country or anywhere else in the World. We need to take a stand against an industry that puts our health at risk and threatens livelihoods and biodiversity both in the UK and abroad."

Peter Beck, Green candidate for Quinton, is also backing the campaign:
"Birmingham City Council has a great opportunity to make a reality of its claim to support sustainability, and to protect the present and future health and safety of the citizens of Birmingham by taking every possible means at their disposal to make Birmingham a GM-Free zone."

Editor's Notes

(1) South Gloucestershire Council (February), South Hams District Council in Devon (February) and Norton Radstock Town Council in Devon (December 2002). Devon and Lancashire County Councils have also taken significant steps to becoming GM-free. Most recently Dorset County Council has passed a resolution expressing grave concerns about the GM threat, and together with Cornwall and Devon Councils is taking steps to produce a South West response to the consultation.

(2) Under new European legislation (Article 19 of EU Deliberate Release Directive 2001/18) Local Authorities can request the Secretary of State for Agriculture and the European Commission to provide legal protection of their area from particular GM crops.

(3) The following councillors and candidates have publicly expressed their support for the GM Free Birmingham campaign:

Acocks Green: John Hemming
Bournville: Patricia Knowles
Brandwood: Matthew Patterson
Edgbaston: David Toke
Harborne: Stuart Masters
Moseley: Martin Mullaney, Nick Whittingham
Nechells: Janet Assheton, Tariq Khan
Northfield: Lee Savage
Quinton: Peter Beck
Sandwell: Harry Eyles
Selly Oak: Barney Smith
Small Heath: Alan Clawley
Sparkbrook: Charles Alldrick, Talib Hussain
Sparkhill: Huw Davies, Jeremy Evans