Monsanto test fine Pathetic

Friends of the Earth has criticised as "pathetic" the £17,000 fine (plus £6,200 costs) imposed on biotech giant Monsanto for breaking safety guidelines at a trial site of genetically modified oilseed rape.

FOE criticised the Health and Safety Executive for not requesting that the case be heard in the Crown Court because of the seriousness of the incident. The case was heard by Caistor Magistrates Court in Lincolnshire. The Court could impose only a £20,000 maximum fine. If the case had been heard by the Crown Court there would have been no limit to the fine imposed.

FOE has also revealed that the Government and HSE have failed to monitor GM trial sites properly elsewhere too. Of the 49 sites inspected between April and October 1998, five had not complied with their consents. Only around one third of licensed GM trial sites were monitored in 1997/1998. And there are only two inspectors actively involved in inspection work. There were over three hundred test sites last year.

Under the five-year freeze proposed by FOE and dozens of other organisations, test trials should be restricted to those necessary for assessing environmental safety.