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Published: 23 July 2004

Return of GM Crops?

Defra has written to interested stakeholders setting out the consultation process it will follow to inform its decisions on the co-existence of GM and non-GM crops.

This is despite the fact that most of the UK population doesn't think that they can co-exist safely and that they don't want to buy / eat GM products anyway.

Defra says it will consult on:

  • a proposal that farmers growing GM crops should comply with a code of practice on co existence which has statutory backing, with the aim of ensuring that unwanted GM presence in non-GM crops is within the 0.9% labelling threshold adopted by the EU

  • whether a threshold below 0.9% should apply in relation to organic production

  • options for providing compensation to non-GM farmers who suffer financially because a GM presence exceeds the statutory threshold

  • the provision of guidance to farmers interested in establishing voluntary GM-free zones

If GM crops are grown there are various ways that they may transfer a GM presence (DNA or protein) into conventional or organic crops, including via cross-pollination.

Under EU law a crop grown from non-GM seed must be sold as 'GM' if it has an adventitious or technically unavoidable GM presence above 0.9%. The government claims that measures, such as crop separation distances, can be applied to minimise GM presence in non-GM crops.

The European Commission has issued guidelines on co-existence for consideration by Member States.

In developing its co-existence policy the Government says that it has also had regard to the report on this issue by the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Committee.

Environment Minister Elliot Morley said:
"We are keen to engage with stakeholders to find the best way forward on this issue.

We do not expect GM crops to be grown here commercially for some time, but we need to have clear co-existence arrangements in place beforehand.

Our aim is to have measures in place next year." (Why the rush if not expected "for some time"?)

It will be a two-stage consultation process:
  • The first phase will comprise a series of workshops to discuss particular aspects of the overall issue, including:
    • the co-existence measures needed at farm level for each crop type
    • the threshold for GM presence in relation to organic production
    • guidance on the possible establishment of voluntary GM-free zones

    Defra will organise the workshops, inviting specific stakeholders (only those who will agree with the government's view that GM is good for you) to attend.

    The workshops are expected to take place over the summer and early autumn.

  • The second phase will start with a consultation paper in the autumn for comment by all stakeholders (do you think they will actually ask the public?).

    The paper will set out the relevant background and options for consideration, taking account of the workshop discussions in the first phase. After this written consultation the Government will then put in place the required arrangements (even if we don't want them).


Further information
Consultation and scroll down to "Co-existence"

Defra GM web pages with links to relevant documents and other sites


Related Articles
GM Speech
11/03/2004 - Source Correspondent

GM UK Research Studies
17/10/2003 - Source Correspondent

GM - Steering Committee Reports
17/10/2003 - Source Correspondent

Crop Failure for GM Policy
15/07/2003 - Source Correspondent

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