Green Euro-MP Urges Commission to say no to GMO on eve of crucial vote

6th May 2008

I call on Commissioner Mandelson and his fellow Commissioners to put the wishes of Europeans above those of the agro-chemical industry by rejecting the request for permission to grow these new GM crops

The Green MEP for the South East has urged the European Commission to oppose an application to grow two new GM crops in the EU when a key vote takes place tomorrow in Brussels, highlighting the fact that there are still major doubts over the safety and sustainability of such crops.

In a letter to Commissioner Peter Mandelson, Dr Caroline Lucas MEP, a long time campaigner against the use of genetically modified crops, warned that the application for two GMOs - a pesticide-producing maize plant and a potato that contains an antibiotic resistant gene - should be rejected.

Dr Lucas said: "I have particular concerns about the two varieties which will be considered by the Commission tomorrow. Each produces its own pesticide, yet under current practices the crops will only have been tested for 90 days for health effects - as opposed to the two year testing requirement for standard pesticides.

"In addition, the GM potato contains a gene that makes cells resistant to antibiotics. We have already seen some of the problems associated with the widespread use of antibiotics and resulting resistance. If this gene were to be released into the environment, it could create serious problems in treating a range of diseases.

"The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) has admitted that it lacks the methods for carrying out long term assessments of the health and environmental impacts of GMOs. It is also relying on incomplete data submitted by the agro-chemical industry. In the absence of adequate data, it would be deeply irresponsible of the Commission to give the go ahead to these new maize and potato varieties."

She continued: ""Every country and region should have the right to completely prohibit the import, growing and sale of genetically modified organisms. More than 170 EU regions and 4,500 other zones have now declared themselves GMO-free, yet the Commission continues to authorise new GM varieties, forcing countries to permit their cultivation. This is undemocratic and utterly unacceptable. It rides rough shod over the 70% of EU citizens who are opposed to GM crops and food stuffs.

"I call on Commissioner Mandelson and his fellow Commissioners to put the wishes of Europeans above those of the agro-chemical industry by rejecting the request for permission to grow these new GM crops."