This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Cautious approach to GM crops in Scotland
09/03/2004
The Executive today announced that it will take account
of public concern over the cultivation of GM crops in
Scotland.
While European legislation rules out any outright ban,
the Executive is to consult with farmers in framing
guidance for the creation of voluntary GM free zones.
The decision by Scottish Ministers takes account of
public opinion expressed through the national GM debate and
the results of the most extensive scientific trials of GM
crops ever held. Ministers also considered a review of GM
science and a costs and benefits analysis.
While the decision could allow the commercial
cultivation of a single variety of GM maize, subject to
strict conditions, there is no prospect of any GM crop
being grown in Scotland before spring 2005 at the
earliest.
The Executive will work to ensure that effective
arrangements are in place to protect conventional crops
before any GM cultivation can take place and will take
action to protect consumer choice.We will also explore the
possibilities for voluntary GM free zones.
Deputy Environment and Rural Development Minister Allan
Wilson said:
"Our primary concern throughout the lengthy process of
gathering evidence on GM crops has been to safeguard human
health and the environment.
"Today's decision does not change this in any way. We
will not allow crops to be grown in Scotland where there is
evidence of increased harm.
"There is no green light for GM crops in Scotland. The
GM debate made clear that the public are uneasy about GM
and that there is little support for early
commercialisation of GM crops in Scotland. We have listened
to the public's views.
"It is clear too that there is no simple yes/no when it
comes to GM. There is no evidence to support a wholesale
ban. Neither do we have the powers to do so. Equally it is
important that we do not close the door on a potentially
beneficial technology.
"The most rigorous labelling and traceability
regulations anywhere in the world will ensure that
consumers will have a choice. As part of our cautious and
precautionary approach to all GM matters, we will ensure
that customers who wish to avoid GM products will be able
to do so.
"We will work with all interested parties to ensure that
measures are in place to ensure that farmers will be able
to continue to meet consumer demand for conventional and/or
organic crops.
"We will work with farmers to explore mechanisms to
establish GM free zones where that is what farmers want. We
will continue to review all applications for commercial
cultivation on a case by case basis and on the scientific
evidence available to us."
In May 2002 the Secretary of State announced that the UK
Government and the Devolved Administrations would sponsor a
national GM Debate. The aim was to create a dialogue
between all strands of opinion on GM, to deepen public
understanding of the issues surrounding GM technology, and
to improve the evidence base to enable informed decisions
to be made. It comprised three main components:
- a public debate, managed by an independent steering
board
- a review of the scientific issues relating to GM
crops and food
- a study into the overall costs and benefits of GM
crops
All three strands have now submitted their final reports
and these have been carefully considered by the Executive
and the other UK administrations. A joint response by the
UK Government and Devolved Administrations to the key
issues raised during the GM Dialogue was published
today.
The Executive also considered other available evidence,
including advice from the Advisory Committee on Releases to
the Environment (ACRE) on the implications of the results
of the farm-scale evaluations of GM crops and the Report on
'Co-existence and Liability' prepared by the Agriculture
and Environment Biotechnology Commission (AEBC).
In relation to the three spring sown crops ACRE has
advised that growing conventional beet and oil seed rape
was better for many for many groups of wildlife than
growing GM herbicide-tolerant varieties. However, in
relation to maize the reverse was true and growing GM maize
was better for many groups of wildlife than growing
conventional maize.
No GM crop can be grown in the EU unless it has
specifically been approved for release under Directive
2001/18/EC. Under the Directive each crop is subjected to a
comprehensive assessment of the possible risks to human
health and the environment, on the basis of the scientific
evidence.
Decisions to approve or reject individual crops are
taken collectively by EU Member States and the
Commission.
From April, new European regulations on traceability and
labelling and food and feed will come into force which will
require food or feed products which contains any approved
GM material or derivative to be labelled.
The exception is where such presence is adventitious or
technically unavoidable in which case a threshold of 0.9
per cent will apply.