Controversial GM site withdrawn
22 May 2001
Controversial GM site withdrawn
By FWi staff
A CONTROVERSIAL genetically modified field scale trial site has been withdrawn by organisers after opposition from a minister and environmentalists.
The Supply Chain Initiative on Modified Agricultural Crops (SCIMAC) said on Monday (21 May) that it was pulling the trial at Wolston, Warwickshire.
The site is only two miles from the Ryton Organic Gardens research centre, leading to fears that the GM maize could cross-pollinate with organic crops.
Earlier this month, environment minister Michael Meacher said the site should be moved, despite assurances from his department that there was no risk.
SCIMAC chairman Roger Turner said that the decision to withdraw the site was in direct response to a request from the minister.
In a statement SCIMAC said Mr Meacher feared the project could damage public confidence in GM trials and the reputation of the organic site.
However, it reiterated its belief that there was no legal or scientific basis not to proceed with the trial, and no risk to Ryton.
The decision was welcomed by Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Association as a great victory for common sense over contamination.
Last week the Royal Society fore the Protection of Birds threatened to sever links with the trials unless the site was withdrawn.
Earlier Mr Meacher wrote to GM advisors the Scientific Steering Committee asking if it would consider withdrawing the site from this years FSE programme.
But SSC chairman Chris Pollock said it not within the panels remit to consider withdrawing individual sites.
He warned that the loss of sites without replacements could jeopardise the original scientific aims and objectives of the trials.
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