FUW LEADER WELCOMES ASSEMBLY’S GMO CONTROL PROPOSALS

Farmers' Union of Wales president Gareth Vaughan today welcomed Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) proposals to protect farmers of traditional and conventional crops from the possible economic disadvantages of accidental contamination from GM crops.

Views are being sought on the proposals published in a WAG document entitled "Consultation on Proposals for Managing the Coexistence of GM, Conventional and Organic Crops in Wales".The proposals include the imposition of strict liability on GM crop growers, a statutory redress mechanism, GM-free zones and a prohibition on GM crop cultivation in National Parks and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

Welcoming the measures, Mr Vaughan said Welsh food producers would quickly lose their competitive edge if genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were used widely in the farming industry.

"The FUW was one of the first organisations to call on the National Assembly for Wales to establish a GM-free Wales and our view since 2000 has been that GMOs should only be tested in a controlled and regulated environment.

"Last year the FUW's milk and dairy produce committee held an internal consultation on the union's GMO policy position and a well attended debate on the issue took place at which both pro and anti-GMO scientists presented evidence to members.

"The subsequent responses received from our 12 county branches made it clear that the overwhelming majority of members maintain that GMOs would not bring any significant benefits to Welsh agriculture and that their premature release into the environment could be accompanied by significant risks.

"Our industry has spent a huge amount of money marketing food such as Welsh Lamb, Welsh Beef and Welsh eggs and the produce of farmers is becoming very highly respected. But going down the GMO route will quickly lead to us losing that competitive edge which we have so painstakingly built up."

Publishing the proposals, Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones said WAG's long-standing position is to adopt the most restrictive policy on GM crops compatible with European Union and UK legislation.

"It is not legally possible to declare Wales GM-free, but we will continue our restrictive approach. I am committed to maintaining consumers right to choose food without GM presence and the ability of farmers in Wales to grow organic and conventional crops free from GM contamination.

"The intention is for co-existence to be tightly regulated in Wales. Our proposed measures will be more restrictive than those proposed in England and Northern Ireland."

The consultation closes on September 22 this year.