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Daily Telegraph (UK)

Curb on GM crop trials after insect pollution

By Robert Uhlig, Farming Correspondent
 (Filed: 14/10/2003)

Stringent new rules for trials of genetically modified crops are to be
imposed after Government researchers found that insects carried pollen more
than six times the distance previously known.

They also found one sowing of GM crops could contaminate non-GM and organic
crops for more than 16 years.

The research, published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs, came as thousands of people protested in London against GM crops and
delivered a 70,000-signature petition to Downing Street yesterday.

On Thursday the Government will publish results of field-scale trials of GM
crops. They are expected to show a deterioration in farmland biodiversity
among at least two of the three GM crops.

Meanwhile, the row between Europe and America over GM crops moved up a gear
yesterday when Margot Wallstrom, the Environment Commissioner, accused US
biotech companies of "trying to lie" and "force" unsuitable GM technology on
to Europe.

She said public suspicion and fears about the technology had been fuelled by
US lobbying tactics.

Whitehall sources said the Government was concerned at a public backlash
should it decide to commercialise GM crops after considering the results of
the farmscale trials.

Yesterday's findings by Government scientists give further cause for concern
as well as grounds to back down on the Prime Minister's favoured plan of
licensing GM crops next year.

Scientists at the Central Science Laboratory found that GM oilseed rape had
cross-pollinated with non-GM oilseed rape plants more than 16 miles away.

A second study by the Scottish Crop Research Institute found that if farmers
grew GM oilseed rape for one season it would take 16 years for contamination
by wild GM plants produced by seed from the first planting to fall to below
one per cent contamination.

Even at this level, the contamination would not be sufficient for a farmer to
sell his crop as GM-free or organic, qualities that demand less than 0.9 and
0.1 per cent contamination respectively.

Pete Riley, GM campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: "If GM contamination
cannot be controlled on test sites, what hope is there if GM crops are widely
grown?"

 The findings played a part in leading the Government to stipulate new
restrictions on test plantings after a biotech company supplied impure,
genetically-modified oilseed rapeseed at 12 trial sites.

Elliot Morley, the environment minister, said: "We are determined to have
effective systems in place to ensure consumer choice whatever the future of
GM in this country."