Government fears wider GM contamination

9 June 2000



Government fears wider GM contamination

By FWi staff

SEED imports from nine countries should be classed as contaminated with genetically modified products, the government has admitted.

Oilseed rape, maize and soya seed from the US, Argentina, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Spain, France, Portugal and Romania from should be viewed as suspect.

This was disclosed in a study by the Ministry of Agriculture, slipped out to Parliament in a written answer, reports The Independent.

The MAFF-commissioned report, published in the House of Commons library, said contamination could be wider than thought.

It said imports from countries where GM crops are grown commercially should be regarded as “potentially contaminated”.

The revelation comes after 600 farmers inadvertently sowed up to 4700 hectares (11,000 acres) of GM-tainted oilseed rape.

On Thursday, farm minister Nick Brown said farmers who had planted these would still be eligible for EU subsidies if they ripped them up.

Meanwhile, The Guardian reports that Mr Brown has apologised for failing to tell Scottish and Welsh ministers about the illegal planting.

Conservative farming spokesman Tim Yeo accused Mr Brown of “dither, confusion and panic” over the scandal.