lots more urls to coverage of this story below
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Mixed message on GM crops leaves ministers in quandary
JAMES REYNOLDS ENVIRONMENT CORRESPONDENT
The Scotsman, Wednesday 14 January 2004
http://www.news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=44442004

GOVERNMENT ministers have been left uncertain on the issue of commercialising GM crops, after a long-awaited scientific report stopped short of giving any clear direction to proceed on the issue.

The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE), the government’s own advisers on GM technology, recommended that herbicide-tolerant GM maize crops should be grown only if their cultivation replicated recent trial conditions. On the condition that that model is followed, farmers will not cause adverse effects on wildlife, they said.

Two other crops tested, weedkiller-tolerant beet and spring-sown oilseed rape, should not be commercialised following the test model, as this would have adverse effects on arable weed populations and in turn on insects and birds compared with conventionally managed beet.

But ACRE was immediately criticised for offering "meaningless advice", as the herbicide used in conjunction with the GM maize trials has now been banned, meaning that it would now be impossible to grow it as advised in the report, "under the conditions employed in the farm-scale trials."

Professor Jules Pretty, the deputy chairman of ACRE, said: "In a sense we are saying ‘yes, but’ to the maize, and ‘no, but’ both to beet and spring-sown oilseed rape.

"That is not ‘yes, no, no’. That is very important."

Prof Pretty added: "This advice confirms the case-by-case approach taken by ACRE for GM crops. This is neither a green light for GMs, nor a death knell for them.

"It is simply the same kind of process, of taking forward case by case, as we have done in the past."

ACRE was asked by Margaret Beckett, the Environment Secretary, to examine the outcome of the three-year trials of the maize, beet and rape - all of which had been genetically engineered to be immune to the effect of specific herbicides that would eradicate competing weeds.

Allan Wilson, the Scottish Executive deputy environment minister, gave a cautious welcome to the report yesterday, saying ACRE’s advice formed part of a "precautionary approach" to the controversial issue.

He added: "Ministers will consider very carefully the implications of this advice, along with the results of the public debate, the costs and benefits study and the science review for our future policy."

Green MSPs called on the Executive to "get off the fence", and criticised the crop trials as an inadequate basis on which to conclude safety for the environment.

Mark Ruskell, MSP, the Greens’ environment spokesman who is promoting a GM liability bill to ensure that biotech companies pay proper compensation for pollution caused by their products, said: "The Executive is committed to a precautionary approach with GM. This means that it must know whether GM is safe first, rather than wait to find out if it is unsafe after introduction."

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds called the report a "2-0 result against GM", while calling for more research on GM maize and beet and rape to be banned.

Duncan McLaren, the chief executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: "The Executive now has more than enough reasons to prevent GM crops from being commercialised in Scotland. GM crops have been shown to be unsuitable on economic, scientific and public-acceptance grounds."

Mr McLaren also said the environmental impact of growing GM maize should be re-examined, and it "certainly should not be allowed to be commercialised in Scotland".

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lots more coverage - more mixed messages:

GM crops to hit wildlife, says advisory body
http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/news-NG.asp?id=49029

British report gives mixed verdict on GM crops
http://www.terradaily.com/2004/040113182808.bbz2xm2b.html

GM experts cautious on maize crop
BBC News, UK
A team of UK Government advisers has given no clear direction to ministers on whether to commercialise GM crops.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3391431.stm

Both sides claim success on GM
http://test.thecourier.co.uk/output/2004/01/14/newsstory5526619t0.asp

UK govt adviser fails to advance GM crops debate
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N2W199390.htm

UK on brink of growing first GM crops
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994560

Fury of protesters as GM farming gets closer
The Mirror, UK
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/content_objectid=13814383_method=full_siteid=50143_headline=-AMAIZED-name_page.html

Green light for transgenic crop
http://www.nature.com/nsu/040112/040112-6.html

http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/23428/story.htm
GM Maize Trials Show No Adverse Impact

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/environment/story.jsp?story=481043
First commercial GM crop may be planted in spring after advisers give qualified approval

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-12971993,00.html
GREEN LIGHT FOR GM CROPS

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