EXCERPT: Ms MacDonald was instrumental in the successful campaign for a moratorium on the use of the genetically engineered milk-boosting hormone bovine somatotrophin (BST).
"That was the last offering from the American biotech multi-nationals and it was proved to be carcinogenic and incredibly dangerous and it's now been banned," said Ms MacDonald.
"Like BST, GM has been introduced without adequate testing and the evidence is that it is incredibly unstable." (item 1)
"There was real evidence from the Tayport GM field trials that contamination does occur and that this can destroy the status of 'GM free' produce, costing farmers and rocking consumer confidence. My bill will address this problem..." Mark Ruskell MSP (item 2)
1.GM safety laws demanded in Wales
2.GM THREAT TO SCOTLAND - 'STRICT' LIABILITY BILL
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1.GM safety laws demanded
Mar 1 2005
Steve Dube, Western Mail
[url at end]
FARMERS joined environmental campaigners and a cross-party group of AMs to demand tough new laws to prevent GM contamination of conventional crops.
The Farmers' Union of Wales, Friends of the Earth Cymru, National Federation of Women's Institutes, and the campaign group GM Free Cymru at the National Assembly united to call for strict legislation to prevent contamination of organic and conventional farming if GM crops are grown commercially in the future.
In a joint statement, the four organisations called on the National Assembly to maintain its restrictive policy on the growth of GM crops, ban the growth of specific GM crops, and continue its campaign in Europe to declare Wales GM free.
If this is not successful, the alliance wants legislation on coexistence between GM and conventional or organic crops to be as tough as possible with any additional costs met by the GM industry.
And if the commercial spread of GM crops proves unstoppable, the alliance wants to protect the public's right to choose GM-free food, strict laws to prevent GM contamination, liability laws to ensure biotech companies pay for all damage arising from contamination and meaningful protection for organic farmers.
FUW president Gareth Vaughan said the union had longstanding concerns over GM contamination and the effectiveness of separation distances.
"The FUW has also argued that the liability rules must safeguard those producers whose business would be affected through GM contamination," he said.
The event at the Assembly was sponsored by Tamsin Dunwoody-Kneafsey, the Labour AM for Preseli Pembrokeshire, and co-sponsored by Mick Bates, Liberal Democrat AM for Montgomery; Glyn Davies, Con- servative AM for Mid and West Wales; Helen Mary Jones, Plaid Cymru AM for Mid and West Wales and Dr John Marek, independent AM for Wrexham.
Mr Bates, Welsh Liberal Democrat environment spokesman, called on the Welsh Assembly Government to take greater action to stop the risk of contamination from genetically modified crops.
"The prospect of growing GM crops has received overwhelming opposition across the country, but the possibility that they will eventually be grown remains strong," he said.
"I am concerned that the UK and Labour Assembly Government will propose weak regulations that would lead to widespread contamination of non- GM crops. This can not be allowed to happen.
"The Government must make sure that people's views on GM are heard. They must also make sure that the possibility of contamination does not exist."
While the alliance demonstrated outside the National Assembly, MPs at Westminster were also urged to listen to their constituents over fears about the threat of GM crops and food.
Welsh campaigner Josie MacDonald was among hundreds asking to see their MPs, although she was disappointed not to meet her own Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire's Nick Ainger, who is now a Government Whip.
"I gave his assistant some research material on the dangers of the chemicals that have to be used with GM," she said.
"There are millions of tonnes of GM already coming into this country in cattle feed and no research has been done on whether it is safe."
Ms MacDonald was instrumental in the successful campaign for a moratorium on the use of the genetically engineered milk- boosting hormone bovine somatotrophin (BST).
Among those who tested the hormone in Wales was former NFU Cymru president Hugh Richards.
"That was the last offering from the American biotech multi-nationals and it was proved to be carcinogenic and incredibly dangerous and it's now been banned," said Ms MacDonald.
"Like BST, GM has been introduced without adequate testing and the evidence is that it is incredibly unstable."
The London rally was addressed by former UK Environment Minister Michael Meacher, who was sacked because of his opposition to GM.
Mr Meacher said the Prime Minister Tony Blair and Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett were supporting GM in defiance of their own policies.
He said, "Everyone except the Government is against GM. Public opinion is overwhelmingly against it and if anything it's hardening.
"The supermarkets aren't stocking it."
Farmers were increasingly turning against it, because in Canada, the US and Argentina where GM crops are grown, pesticide use has increased over the past eight years instead of reducing as predicted.
He said the New Labour agenda spoke constantly about choice in health, education and a raft of policies.
He added, "How about choice in the most fundamental political decision of all, what we eat?"
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/1000farming/tm_objectid=15243094&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=gm-safety-laws-demanded-name_page.html
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2.GREEN MSP MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release 25th February 2005
GREEN MSP MOVES ON GM THREAT TO SCOTLAND WITH 'STRICT' LIABILITY BILL
- next test for Libdems looms, as one principled Libdem MSP backs Green Bill
Mark Ruskell, Green MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife today officially lodged his GM Liability Bill proposal in the Scottish Parliament with support from four other political parties and all independent MSPs
The Bill would make GM companies strictly liable for any economic damage as a result of contamination caused by GM crop trials and commercialisation, should it ever be forced through by the Labour/Libdem Coalition in Scotland. (1)
The proposal is endorsed by 23 MSPs representing Greens, SSP, SNP, Independents and Liberal Democrat John Farquhar Munro.
Mr Ruskell - Green speaker on the environment - said: "I'm delighted that there is a real consensus growing in parliament on the need to make biotechnology companies liable for their GM creations. With increased support for the bill, we can now legislate to protect the livelihoods of those who want to grow GM free produce in Scotland as well as the rights of those who want to eat GM free food. Across Europe the pressure to introduce GM crops is growing and it is vital that we put in place a strong backstop in the law now to make sure the biotech companies carry the can if their products cause damage in Scotland."
He added, "There was real evidence from the Tayport GM field trials that contamination does occur and that this can destroy the status of 'GM free' produce, costing farmers and rocking consumer confidence. My bill will address this problem which could be much more widespread if full commercial growing of GM took place in Scotland."
Since the widespread introduction of commercially grown GM crops in North America, there have been numerous instances of non-GM farmers losing markets and livelihoods as a result of contamination. There, contamination incidents have cost the US economy at least $12bn between 1999 and 2001. (2)
The Scottish Executive is expected to run a consultation on GM 'coexistence and liability' during the Spring, but their preferred option is thought to involve a compensation fund paid into by the biotechnology industry, which falls short of the need for strict, direct liability and is considered wholly inadequate. Greens say this weak approach is consistent with the previously ridiculed proposal by the Libdems and Labour Executive to introduce a 'voluntary ban' - likened to a 'chocolate fireguard' by commentators.
The next stage for the Greens' bill follows the completion of negotiations with the Parliament's Non-Executive Bills Unit over some technical considerations, then a draft Bill will be laid before a parliamentary committee for scrutiny. Then it will be ready for a Stage One debate. This is likely to take place later in the Spring or early Summer.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION contact the Green MSPs Press Office on 0790 99 33 074 or Andrew Thompson on 07881 846984
Notes to editors
1. Mr Mark Ruskell: Proposed Liability for Release of Genetically Modified Organisms (Scotland) Bill - Proposal for a Bill to amend the law of damages in relation to the release of genetically modified organisms by making the holder of the consent to release strictly liable for economic damages that result from GM contamination.
Following a change in parliamentary procedures, all outstanding Bill proposals are required to be submitted with the support of at least 18 other MSPs. When Mr Ruskell initially submitted the Bill proposal in 2003, he gained the support of 17 MSPs.
23 MSPs now supporting the proposal:
1. Mark Ballard (Green)
2. Chris Ballance (Green)
3. Shiona Baird (Green)
4. Eleanor Scott (Green)
5. Robin Harper (Green)
6. Patrick Harvie (Green)
7. Tommy Sheridan (SSP)
8. Rosie Kane (SSP)
9. Colin Fox (SSP)
10. Frances Curran (SSP)
11. Rosemary Byrne (SSP)
12. Carolyn Leckie (SSP)
13. Jean Turner (Ind)
14. John Swinburne (Ind)
15. Dennis Canavan (Ind)
16. Campbell Martin (Ind)
17. Margo MacDonald (Ind)
18. Roseanna Cunningham (SNP)
19. Rob Gibson (SNP)
20. Sandra White (SNP)
21. Bruce Crawford (SNP)
22. Linda Fabiani (SNP)
23. John Farquhar Munro (Lib Dem)
2. The case for a strict liability regime is undeniable considering the North American experience. In the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, GM contamination has led to the loss of virtually the whole of the organic oilseed rape sector. To add insult to injury, farmers who have been contaminated have then been sued by biotechnology companies for unauthorised cultivation of a patented crop.
Similar incidents are estimated to have cost the US economy at least $12bn between 1999 and 2001, and as a result there are numerous protracted and messy class actions where GM free farmers collectively struggle to find some form of recompense for their economic loss.
For detailed information on the North American and Canadian GM experience and need for strict liability go to the Soil Association's "Seeds of Doubt" report at
http://www.soilassociation.org/web/sa/saweb.nsf/ed0930aa86103d8380256aa70054918d/a72f34ecca9b64e880256cd70037de0a!OpenDocument
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