NFU rejects moratorium on GM food

15 February 1999

NFU rejects moratorium on GM food

By FWi staff

THE National Farmers Union has rejected calls from retailers and consumer groups to delay the commercial planting of genetically modified (GM) crops.

The government today (Monday) faced fresh calls to introduce a moratorium on commercial planting after fears resurfaced over the effects of the crops on human health.

But those fears are not shared by the NFU, which said existing regulations ensured farmers would only grow GM crops if they were shown to be harmless.

“Were pretty confident that any product wouldnt get to the commercial stage if it wasnt safe,” said an NFU spokesman.

The GM potatoes which sparked the health fears were specially created for a laboratory experiment, and would never be destined for commercial use, the spokesman added.

The NFU said that a moratorium on GM crops already grown in the USA and South America threatened to seriously damage the business interests of UK producers.

“We dont want anything to be imposed on this country that would put us at a competitive disadvantage anywhere else in the world,” the NFU spokesman added.

There are currently no GM crops being grown commercially in the UK, but trials are being undertaken on more than 340 sites across the country.

If the trials go as planned, one of the first GM crops to be grown here will be oilseed rape developed by AgrEvo to be resistant to the herbicide glyphosate.

Field-scale trials of the GM rape could start as soon as next month, with the first commercial planting going ahead as early as next spring.