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Northern Ireland must remain GM-free

Thursday 9th September 2004

The Socialist Environmental Alliance has condemned the European Commission decision to authorise the introduction of the first genetically modified (GMO) seeds for commercial use across the EU.

According to the new proposal, maize and rapeseed would be allowed to contain up to 0.3 percent of genetically modified organisms without being labelled. Commissioners also added varieties of a GM maize made by Monsanto, the US biotechnology company, into the EU's overall seed directory that includes all national seed catalogues.

The SEA, like other environmental organisations, believes that allowing the widespread growing of GM crops, before countries have had the chance to put measures in place to protect consumers and the environment, is a reckless move.

"Northern Ireland must remain a GM-free zone", says SEA spokesperson Davy McAuley." Unfortunately, New Labour are determined to put the profits of huge multinationals like Montsanto ahead of the long-term health of consumers and the countryside.

"It is less than two years since the Government had one of its many 'consultations' on GM crops. When we look at the published results of the this debate, it's plain that New Labour has paid not a blind bit of notice to the views expressed", claims Davy McAuley. The official report published on the Government's web-site tells that the mood of those who took part, "ranged from caution and doubt, through suspicion and scepticism, to hostility and rejection." These attitudes, it admits, "far outweighed any degree of support or enthusiasm for GM."

The report continues that, "The more people engage in GM issues, the harder their attitudes and more intense their concerns...In particular, the more they choose to discover about GM the more convinced they are that no one knows enough about the long-term effects of GM on human health."

The report also finds "widespread mistrust of government and multi-national companies," and that "The debate also highlighted unease over the perceived power of the multi-national companies which promote GM technology, and of such companies in general. People believe that these companies are motivated overwhelmingly by profit rather than meeting society's needs, and that they have the power to make their interests prevail over the wider public interest, both at home and throughout global society."

"Despite this level of public opposition being uniform across Europe, the EU have now pushed through a measure which has been demanded by biochemical companies and agri-business conglomorates but which is wanted by no significant section of the people", according to the SEA.  





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