Press release for immediate use

CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE MORATORIUM ON GM CROPS

The Munlochy GM vigil is calling for an immediate moratorium on the growing
of GM crops following the damning report published by the health committee
of the Scottish Parliament today (available on the Scottish Parliament
website). 

Anthony Jackson of the Vigil states: "Until the major issues raised in the
health committee report have been addressed, GM crops should not be
grown in the open environment. The report, with complete cross-party
consensus, states that the risk assessment procedure upon which the
safety of crops is supposedly based is flawed.

"The report also most damningly declares that the Executive has not, and is
not, following the precautionary principle by allowing GM crop trials to
proceed. The Executive has continually stated that they only allow
trials to proceed on the basis of the precautionary principle and now
must take on board the finding of this full and independent enquiry and
put in place a moratorium on GM crops in the open environment.

"The Health committee could not find sufficient evidence to equivocally
state that GM crops or food are safe in terms of human health. Without
evidence that there is no harm to human health from GM crops or food it is
encumbent upon government to make sure that GM crops are not grown
openly or GM foods enter the food chain."

ENDS

Press contact Anthony Jackson 07720 817 847

The full report can be viewed at:
www.scottish.parliament.uk/official_report/cttee/health-03/her03-01-01.htm