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GM Crops
The Labour Government conducted a national debate on GM technology, as well as the biggest ever field trials of GM crops to ascertain GM crops' effects on wildlife diversity.
The Government will not agree to a GM crop release if there is any serious doubt about its effect on human health or the environment.
Before a GM crop can be approved for release, it is subject to a detailed risk assessment which involves careful scrutiny by independent scientists.
The European Union has agreed that produce should be labelled if it has a GM presence above 0.9%. This recognises that because we live in a world where GM crops are widely grown, it would be very difficult to avoid very low levels of incidental GM content.
More generally, it is normal within agriculture to operate a realistic tolerance for perceived impurities.
Strict controls are already in place, but the EU is also adopting an Environmental Liability Directive which will cover the release of GM crops. In this context, the relevant biotechnology company may be held liable for damage caused by one of its products.
In the UK, Ministers already have powers under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to require companies to remedy any damage caused be a GM release if they have committed an offence.
From the public dialogue it is clear that most people believe that the use of genetic modification should be approached with caution.
They want strong regulation and monitoring and in addition farmers want a framework of rules for coexistence of GM and non-GM crops, and customers want a clear regime for traceability and labelling so that they can make their own choices.
I am confident that the Government is taking appropriate measures to address these concerns, and ensure the safe cultivation of GM crops.