Dr John said the MON810 range did not meet EU regulations. Monsanto had not provided molecular data to demonstrate genetic stability, and recent work in France and Belgium had shown that the line is inherently unstable.

"It does not therefore meet the standards laid down in the EC seeds directive and should be rejected on that basis," he said.

"Austria and Italy have banned MON810, and the Belgian authorities now also have major concerns about it." (item 2)

1.Campaign for GM free zones and regions gathers force
2.Fury over GM maize move
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1.Campaign for GM free zones and regions gathers force
Environmentalists and regional authorities launch joint initiative
PRESS RELEASE
Embargoed until 14 September, 16 PM

Strasbourg, 14 September. Today the Assembly of European Regions (AER) and Friends of the Earth Europe (FoE) have launched a joint long-term campaign that aims to protect traditional crops and products from the consequences of the introduction of new genetic technologies. Among other things the AER and FoE will lobby together for a European legal framework on the coexistence of traditional and transgenic crops, as well as for the legal recognition of GMO-free zones and regions in Europe.

The AER and FOE call for a binding EU coexistence regulation, following the example of the law that was recently adopted by the German Parliament, with a clear definition of:
- biosafety measures such as separation distances between GM and non-GM crops and a public register for GMOs;
- a liability scheme in the event that conventional and organic crops as well as their seeds are contaminated by GMOs, on the basis of the precautionary and polluter-pays principles;
- the right of Member States and regional authorities to prohibit or restrict the use or sale of GMOs within the Common market if there is evidence of an advanced risk of extensive dissemination or a negative impact on the environment;
- legal provisions enabling the regions to define all or a part of their territory as a GMO-free zone or region, without these decisions being seen as an infringement to the Community principle of free movement of goods.

Klaus Klipp, Secretary General of the Assembly of European Regions said: "Since 1999, nearly two thousand regional and local authorities across Europe have declared themselves GMO-free areas, challenging the European law on the Common market. They want to confront the risks of contamination by GMOs and to protect their traditional and organic agriculture, as well as their products of designated origin. Via this joint initiative the AER aims to have the voice of the Regions heard at the European level".

Geert Ritsema of Friends of the Earth said: "It is clear that environmentalists and European regions have a common interest to protect biodiversity, traditional and organic agriculture against the risks of GMOs. And today the German law on coexistence give us a chance to respond properly to the GMO issue at European level".

Several Members of the European Parliament were present at today's press conference, where the joint AER/FoE initiative was launched:

Mr. Janusz Wojciechowski, EEP, PL, Vice-President of Agriculture Committee said: "Poland and other new EU Member states want to avoid the errors that the old EU Member states made in the past in order to preserve our traditional agriculture. We may produce less than them but our food must be natural and consumer-friendly. Only such a policy can help us to uphold small farms and maintain jobs in rural areas".

Mrs. Jillian Evans, Greens/EFA, UK, said: "What is happening at European level since the Commission lifted the moratorium is additional proof that the European Parliament, which adopted the resolution on coexistence between GM and non-GM in December 2003, has not been heard once again. We welcome the German Parliament's step forward on the issue, which opens the way to a new approach of coexistence".

Created in 1985, the Assembly of European Regions (AER) is a political organisation of regions in Europe and the speaker for their interests at European and international level. It currently has 250 member regions from 30 European countries and 12 interregional organisations. For further information:
www.a-e-r.org Contacts: Agnès Ciccarone, AER Regional Development Committee Executive Secretary, Phone: +33 3 88 22 74 37; Email [email protected] or Barbara Skoczylas-Thauront, Press and Communication Manager, Phone: +33 3 88 22 74 46; Email [email protected]

Friends of the Earth is a Non Governmental Organisation and the widest European network in the field of environment protection and sustainable
development They are the European branch of Friends of the Earth International, which gathers 68 national member organisations and some 5000 local associations in the world. For further information: www.foeeurope.org
FOE Europe contact:
Geert Ritsema, GMO Campaign Coordinator,
Phone: +32-2-542 0182, Mobile: +31-6-290 05 908; Email [email protected]
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2.Fury over GM maize move
Steve Dube, The Western Mail, Sep 14 2004
(see end for url)

A DECISION by the EU Commission to allow European farmers to grow another 17 different varieties of GM maize has been condemned as illogical and despicable.

The watchdog group GM Free Cymru reacted angrily to last week's move and is calling on the National Assembly and Defra to lodge a formal objection on the grounds that the MON810 range poses unacceptable risks to human health and the environment.

The varieties have been developed by the American biotech and farm products company Monsanto to resist insect infestation.

Six are already listed in France and 11 in Spain, and the retiring EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection David Byrne has now ruled that they must also go on the European register.

GM Free Cymru spokesman Dr Brian John said, "This is a despicable piece of opportunism, pushed through by a group of commissioners who are shortly to retire, and in particular at the behest of David Byrne, who has been a leading proponent of GM in agriculture ever since he took office.

"This has been done for the benefit of Monsanto, the World Trade Organisation and the United States of America, and is directly against the interests and the wishes of consumers within the EU countries.

"In other words, this has everything to do with politics and nothing to do with science."

Dr John said the MON810 range did not meet EU regulations. Monsanto had not provided molecular data to demonstrate genetic stability, and recent work in France and Belgium had shown that the line is inherently unstable.

"It does not therefore meet the standards laid down in the EC seeds directive and should be rejected on that basis," he said.

"Austria and Italy have banned MON810, and the Belgian authorities now also have major concerns about it."

Dr John said the commission had based its decision on the outmoded and unscientific concept of "substantial equivalence".

"They have willfully disregarded the accumulating evidence that these GM maize varieties are at best unstable and at worst downright dangerous for cattle and human beings," he said.

Welsh Liberal Democrat countryside spokesman Mick Bates said the decision could have serious repercussions for Wales' GM-free status. He has called on Wales Countryside Minister Carwyn Jones to clarify the impact.

"Opposition to the growing of GM crops in Wales remains strong, and the Assembly Government's response to this European Commission decision must reflect that strength of feeling," he said.

A survey by Which? magazine, released last week, showed public opposition to GM food and crops had increased in the past two year to 61%.

"This opening of the door to GM crops only highlights the urgent need for rules on co-existence between GM and conventional crops and liability on possible GM contamination of other crops," said Mr Bates.

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