GM Seed Contamination Threat

Archived

Tuesday, 29 October 2002

As the European Union prepares to implement regulations that will further close the market to genetically engineered (GE) food and crops, a new legislative threat to Europe’s de facto non-GE status is emerging: the prospect of legally allowed GE contamination in conventional and organic seeds.

In the coming weeks the European Commission will seek regulatory committee approval for a directive that could see GE crops grown in Europe on a commercial scale by stealth. It would permit thousands of millions of GE seeds to be mixed with ordinary planting seeds and released into European soil.

This proposal is formally opposed by over 300 farmer, environmental and consumer groups representing over 25 million Europeans. Despite the potentially far-reaching and devastating consequences of this piece of legislation both the European Parliament and the Environment Ministers are so far being excluded from the decision making process.

Source: GM News 31 For full story visit: www.gm-news.co.uk