UK Sunday Express
     
     18 June

     GM crops face destruction in trials blunder
     BY VICTORIA FLETCHER

     THE Government is on the verge of destroying 10 of its GM trial crops
     because they have been planted dangerously close to organic farms, the
     Sunday Express has learned.

     New evidence suggests that pollen from GM cereals will infect organic
     and traditional crops in surrounding areas when the crops ripen in a
     few weeks.

     Environment Minister Michael Meacher is urgently considering a report
     which shows that the buffer zones round the Government's 50 GM trial
     sites are too small to guarantee that no cross-contamination occurs.

     He may insist that separation zones are increased to six miles, and
     order the immediate destruction of any GM crops growing within this 
     radius.

     With harvest approaching, dozens of farmers using both organic and
     traditional methods are terrified that their crops will become infected
     by airborne GM pollen. Already, 10 organic farms have been warned that
     they are at "high risk" of becoming infected and may lose their organic
     licence as a precaution.

     The Soil Association - which awards the organic licences - insists that
     unless the GM trial crops are immediately uprooted, up to 34 organic
     farms where farmers have spent years ridding their land of pollutants
     and pesticides, will be lost.

     Last Thursday, Patrick Holden, the director of the Soil Association,
     showed Mr Meacher evidence that the safety buffer zone needed to be
     increased from 50 metres to 6,000 metres. His evidence has now been
     supported by a Government-backed report, which admits previous
     recommendations on the distance between GM and non-GM crops were
     wrong.

     Mr Meacher and Mr Holden are due to meet again early this week to
     discuss how a GM contamination disaster can be averted.

     Harry Hadaway, of the Soil Association said: "The Government has
     promised to protect organic farms and consumers from GM pollution. The
     only way to do this is to incorporate the separation distances set out
     in this document into UK law.

     "If the crops are allowed to flower, organic farms will become infected
     which is totally unacceptable for farmers and consumers.

     "Any GM trial crop near an organic farm should be removed immediately."

     If the Government fails to act, it will be a big blow to consumer
     confidence in organic food. And ministers could end up facing claims
     for compensation from the country's 4,500 organic farms if their GM trials
     infect organic crops.

     Organic farms in the UK occupy just three per cent of the land and are
     able to provide only 30 per cent of the organic food sold in Britain.

     Mr Meacher's position on the issue of contamination has so far been
     unclear. While pledging support for the protection of organic farms, he
     said last week that it was impossible always to protect crops from
     contamination.He told the Commons: "The question is how we can
     absolutely minimise contamination to a level acceptable to those buying
     the product, because it is the customer who will have to determine what
     degree of GM in a non-GM food is acceptable."

     (c) Express Newspapers, 2000