Published: 02 July 2009
Wales acts to protect farmers of traditional & conventional crops from GM crops
Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones has published proposed measures, for consultation, to protect farmers of traditional & conventional crops from the possible economic disadvantages of accidental contamination from GM crops.
Views are being sought on proposals including the imposition of strict liability on GM crop growers, a statutory redress mechanism, GM-free zones and a prohibition on GM crop cultivation in National Parks and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
Elin Jones said:
“The Welsh Assembly Government’s long-standing position is to adopt the most restrictive policy on GM crops that is compatible with European Union and UK legislation. It is not legally possible to declare Wales GM-free, but we will continue our restrictive approach.
I am committed to maintaining consumers right to choose food without GM presence and the ability of farmers in Wales to grow organic and conventional crops free from GM contamination.
The intention is for co-existence to be tightly regulated in Wales. Our proposed measures will be more restrictive than those proposed in England and Northern Ireland.”
In addition to the implicit need for consultation with neighbours, in order to ensure compliance with separation distances, it is also proposed that there will be a statutory requirement to inform all neighbours & landowners.
The proposed measures include options for imposing strict liability on GM crop growers and introducing a voluntary industry funded compensation scheme. Consideration is also given to an option for a statutory redress mechanism.
Views are also being sought on:
· GM-Free Zones
· the desirability of a statutory prohibition on GM crop cultivation in all statutory conservation areas such as National Parks and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
On a GM Crop Register, the government propose a statutory national register with public access. GM crops will require registration with the Welsh Assembly Government 3 months prior to planting.
In addition to the implicit need for consultation with neighbours, in order to ensure compliance with separation distances, it is also proposed that there will be a statutory requirement to inform all neighbours and landowners.
In addition, it is proposed within the consultation document that record keeping should be a statutory requirement for GM producers, as will training for all on-farm handlers of GM crops.
The Field Measures being proposed are based on the average arable field size in Wales of fewer than 3 hectares. Significant isolation distances between GM and non-GM crops and buffer zones incorporating pollen barriers or traps are also proposed.
On Seed Thresholds, views are sought on whether the present 0.1% default seed threshold should be retained, as many Member States’ separation distances have been established on that basis.
These proposals are also complemented by the recent Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) (Wales) Regulations 2009 that came into force in April this year.
These regulations will make growers and consent holders liable for any environmental damage they might cause and is in line with the polluter pays principle.
These regulations together with our coexistence proposals will help protect the wider countryside from any unintended environmental damage from GM crops.
The consultation closes on 22 September 2009.
Further information
Consultation on proposals for managing the co-existence of genetically modified, conventional and organic crops in Wales
WAG - Farming and countryside
WAG - Environment and countryside
Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) (Wales) Regulations 2009
Greenpeace – GM Crops
Defra – GM Crops
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