http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/gmdebate/Story/0,2763,375537,00.html

GM crops get public hearings

 The Guardian Special report: GM debate

 James Meikle  Saturday September 30, 2000

 An unprecedented set of hearings into the future of
 genetically modified crops begins on Monday,
 heralding 10 weeks of embarrassing allegations of
 failures in the government's handling of the
 introduction of the new technology into British
 agriculture.

 Pressure to exert stricter control over the
 biotech companies will be put on ministers by
 anti-GM groups and individual protesters, who
 forced the hearings, to cost #500,000, by
 exploiting previously unused official procedures
 laid down by 1982 seeds regulations to object to
 plans from a GM company, Aventis, to market
 commercially Chardon LL, a modified feed maize
 for cattle.

 Nick Brown, the agriculture minister, has
 indicated he is ready to give permission; if he
 decides to do so next year, a far more expensive
 legal battle involving a high court judge is likely.
 Success for Aventis in getting a national seeds
 listing for its product, the last legal hurdle it
 faces, would bring applications from other
 companies anxious to be ready for the market once
 farm trials are complete in 2003. Some 68
 groups and individuals, all except Aventis against
 the proposal, have each paid a total of #90 to gain
 the right to public hearings. Some are calling
 expert witnesses. On Monday they will be handed
 30kg (66lb) of written evidence submitted to the
 hearings, for which a timetable will then be set.

 The hearings will be held over six weeks at a hotel
 in Hammersmith, west London, with a further
 four at University of Manchester Institute of
 Science and Technology. A further 220 objectors
 paid #30 to lodge their protests in writing.