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ACRE says GM Maize 'No Threat to Wildlife' (13/1/2004)

"To claim everything is being done on the basis of full safety analysis both in terms of the environment and human health is a confidence trick. Whenever proper testing is conducted, real harm to the countryside is identified." - Michael Meacher, former UK Environment Minister who commissioned the trials

1.GM crops given partial green light
2.GM Maize 'No Threat to Wildlife'
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1.GM crops given partial green light
http://www.epolitix.com/data/html/news/EPX-NEWS/articles/000000001A447390AA6611CD9BC800AA002FC45A0900A56F84C9D8EDD111A102006097C4CD0D0000000B18030000238FC1C7798E1040A0F463339140C66D00000110B8F30000.htm
Published: Tue, 13 Jan 2004 03:00:00 UTC  Author:  Chris Smith

Some GM crops could be grown in Britain, government advisors have concluded.  In a report published on Tuesday scientists gave a mixed verdict on the future of GM technology.  Officials on the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) revealed that some crops could be grown commercially but others should not be planted in UK soil.  ACRE concluded that of genetically modified, herbicide-tolerant beet and oilseed rape could present a danger to the environment.

The findings came from farm-scale evaluations held at secret sites across the UK.

Environment secretary Margaret Beckett also received a report from English Nature on behalf of the statutory conservation bodies.  It too concluded that oilseed rape and beet should not be grown commercially, but that GM maize could be commercialised subject to conditions.

The trials had investigated the possible impact on farmland wildlife that the crops might have.

The two recommendations were based on the results of the farm scale evaluations published in October and a key report in November last year.  Neither had proved to be the ringing endorsement that ministers had hoped for.

Beckett said no final decision had been taken and that ministers would consider with the devolved administrations what their verdict would be.  The key decision will centre on whether Britain should now call for existing EU marketing consents for the crops should be revoked or amended.

"We will now consider ACRE's advice, as well as the advice from English Nature, very carefully before reaching a view on whether these crops should be approved for cultivation in the EU," said Beckett.  "I have said consistently that the government is neither pro- nor anti-GM crops. Our over-riding concern is to protect human health and the environment, and to ensure genuine consumer choice."                    

Environment minister Elliot Morley is expected to announce that he will back M crops being grown with stringent safeguards. orley is set to appear before a committee of MPs on Tuesday afternoon where e will be grilled on the issue.

But environmental campaigners who have waged a sustained campaign against the crops claimed they present a danger to the countryside.

One of the leading opponents of GM crops, which are resistant to some diseases, is former environment minister Michael Meacher.  He claimed the public was being misled.  "To claim everything is being done on the basis of full safety analysis both in terms of the environment and human health is a confidence trick," said Meacher.  "Whenever proper testing is conducted, real harm to the countryside is identified.  "At the same time, British research has found that GM DNA can pass bacteria in the human gut."

The announcement followed the prime minister's defence of GM crops last week.  "It is important these measures are dealt with on the basis of science because the biotechnology industry is of huge importance to this country," said Tony Blair.

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2.GM Maize 'No Threat to Wildlife'
By Amanda Brown, Environment Correspondent, PA News
http://www.news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2403258

Farmers who grow genetically modified herbicide tolerant maize crops under strict rules would not see adverse effects on wildlife, government scientific advisers said today.  The message from the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) will be studied by ministers as the debate over the commercialisation of the controversial crops gathers pace.

The ACRE panel, which has spent the last three months looking at the results of three year nationwide field scale trials of crops, announced their advice to Government at a London press conference.

But their verdict on GM beet and spring sown oil seed rape is that if these were grown, it would have adverse effects on arable weed populations and in turn on insects and birds, compared with conventionally managed beet.

Jules Pretty, deputy chairman of ACRE, told the news conference: "In a sense we are saying ‚'yes, but' to the maize and 'no, but' both to the beet and the spring sown oil seed rape."

"That is not 'yes, no, no'. That is very important."

English Nature, another advisory panel to Government, has told ministers that oilseed rape and beet should not be commercialised, but GM herbicide tolerant maize may be commercialised subject to certain conditions.  

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