Kennedy attacks Labour over GMs

19 August 1999

Kennedy attacks Labour over GMs

CHARLES KENNEDY, the Liberal Democrats new leader, attacked the governments record on genetically modified crops yesterday, accusing it of ignoring consumers and the environment in favour of big business.

He said that guidelines for testing GM crops were inadequate. Wider buffer zones between them and conventional and organic crops were crucial to reduce the risk of cross-pollination.

He also said that environmental assessments should be made by independent scientists, rather than the biotech companies concerned.

Kennedy renewed his partys call for a five-year moratorium on commercial GM crops to let scientists publish their findings.

In Brussels, the European Unions Environment Commissioner, Margot Wallstrom, promised to examine environmental and health implications of GM produce.

• The Times 19/08/99 page 12
  
• The Independent 19/08/99 page 4
  
• The Guardian 19/08/99 page 9