The resources here are specifically designed for use by campaigners and activists.
GM-Free
Britain campaign resources
March 2005
Lots of materials to build your own GM
campaign in your area, including GM-free
Businesses materials.
GM-Free
Scarecrows campaign resources
March 2005
Lots of resources and materials for our scarecrows against GM contamination
campaign
Farm Scale Trial (FST) locations
Autumn 2002
The latest data for the locations of Farm Scale Trials of genetically modified crops.
Get illegal GM foods off shop shelves
(Word format - 60K) Apr 2008
Take action to keep illegal GM rice out of shops.
Get unlabelled GM ingredients out of your local restaurants
(Word format - 60K) Apr 2008
Ask your local Trading Standards office what they're doing to stop unlabelled GM oil from getting into your dishes.
Hoofprints: Livestock and its environmental impacts
(PDF† format - 320K) Feb 2008
This briefing highlights the impact that the livestock system has on the environment and communities both here and overseas.
An Effective Town Centre First Policy: what needs to be in the new PPS6
(PDF† format - 91K) Dec 2007
A joint statement from the Association of Convenience Stores, Campaign to Protect Rural England, Friends of the Earth, Food Access Network and the National Federation of Women's Institutes.
Planting prejudice - executive summary
(PDF† format - 523K) Nov 2007
How UK Government support for GM crops undermines sustainable farming policies.
Planting prejudice - full report
(PDF† format - 350K) Nov 2007
How UK Government support for GM crops undermines sustainable farming policies.
Food and climate change
(PDF† format -165K) Oct 2007
This briefing highlights the impact that the food system has on climate change.
Farmers speak out on low milk prices
(PDF† format - 41K) Sep 2007
This briefing highlights the environmental and business impacts of the low prices being paid to dairy farmers.
Shopping the Bullies
(PDF† format - 613K) Apr 2007
This report examines the tactics used by supermarkets to manipulate the planning system, and highlights why the planning system for retail needs to be strengthened, not weakened.
Food Sovereignty leaflet
(PDF† format - 264K) Apr 2007
This leaflet explores the right of people to define their own food and agriculture policies.
GM rice contamination action guide
(PDF† format - 79K) Feb 2007
Please write to the Food Standards Agency and the supermarkets to help make sure our food is not contaminated with illegal GM ingredients, now or in the future.
Farmer Survey 2006
(PDF† format - 54K) Dec 2006
Our survey of supermarket trading practices suggests that the big supermarkets are damaging the businesses of farmers across the country.
Could GM food cause allergies?
(PDF† format - 188K) Jun 2006
New research has brought into question the safety of both new and previously approved GM foods.
Genetically modified animal feed
(PDF† format - 181K) May 2006
This briefing highlights the risks of GM animal feed and who is bringing it into the UK.
Calling the shots
(PDF† format - 462K) Jan 2006
Through a series of case studies, this briefing exposes the strategies that supermarkets employ to ensure they get planning permission for new stores.
Local Development Frameworks and your community
(PDF† format - 130K) Dec 2005
This briefing will help you and your local group to get local planning policies that favour local food and local shops instead of more big supermarkets.
Britain's supermarkets still not supporting native apples
(PDF† format - 71K) Nov 2005
This briefing gives the results of our consumer survey of apple sourcing in a variety of retail outlets.
How to...oppose a supermarket planning application
(PDF format - 152K) Sep
2005
This briefing will guide you and your local group in opposing supermarket applications in your local area.
The
Tesco Takeover
(PDF format - 194K) Jun
2005
Over the past 10 years Tesco has become a giant among the world's retailers.
But the Tesco bonanza comes at a price for farmers, workers, town centres
and the environment, as this briefing reveals.
The
Tesco Takeover: Tesco's response
(PDF format - 128K) Jul
2005
Tesco have produced a response to the above report. Unfortunately
they pay little serious attention to the issues raised, instead simply
accusing us of inaccuracies. We discuss their response in this briefing
and stand by our original report.
The
Tesco Takeover - Leaflet
(PDF format - 153K) Jun
2005
Colour leaflet focusing on the impacts of Tesco's growth, covered
in more detail in the briefing above.
Checking
out the environment? Environmental impacts of supermarkets
(PDF format - 142K) Jun
2005
This briefing provides an outline of the environmental impacts of large
supermarket chains at the local, national and global scale.
Good
neighbours? Community impacts of supermarkets
(PDF
format - 110K) Jun 2005
This briefing looks at the economic and social effects of the competitive
policies of large supermarket chains, and the subsequent impacts on
local communities in the UK.
Summary
of Legal Opinion in the matter of co-existence, traceability and labelling
of GMOs
(PDF format - 18K) Mar
2005
One page summary of the new legal opinion below.
Legal
Opinion in the matter of co-existence, traceability and labelling of
GMOs
(PDF format - 181K) Mar
2005
New legal opinion criticising the European Commission and UK Government's
approach on GM crop co-existence with other crops as "fundamentally
flawed".
Government
to publish final GM Farm Scale Trial results: Winter oilseed rape
(PDF format - 220K) Mar
2005
The Government publishes the results of its field scale trials
of genetically modified (GM) winter oilseed rape on 21st March. These
are the final results from the Government’s Farm Scale Evaluations
of GM herbicide tolerant crops. This short briefing, by Friends of the
Earth, the GM Freeze Campaign and GeneWatch UK, covers many of the key
questions the results are likely to raise.
The
Voluntary Initiative catchment projects: are they really working?
(PDF format - 70K) Nov
2004
One of the key projects of the Voluntary Initiative (set up as an alternative
to a pesticide tax) aims to reduce herbicide pollution of water in six
catchments, and the VI has claimed that “it’s working”.
Friends of the Earth’s analysis shows that pollution incidents
are still occurring and the advice given to farmers in the VI projects
is very difficult to follow in practice.
Retail
development: Key polices for inclusion in Local Development Frameworks
(PDF format - 61K) Nov
2004
Friends of the Earth believes that Local Planning Authorities, via their
Local Development Frameworks (LDFs), should play a positive role in
promoting vibrant, diversified and localised retail development in their
areas. This briefing suggests key policies on retail development for
inclusion in LDFs.
Why
the new PPS6 could damage town centres
(PDF format - 50K) Nov
2004
Draft Planning Policy Statement 6 (PPS6) was accompanied by a commitment
from Government to the regeneration of town and city centres. But the
draft statement encourages the provision of large format stores on the
edge of town centres. Friends of the Earth produced this MP briefing
to help ensure ministers are made aware that this policy would directly
contradict their aim to protect and regenerate town centres.
Children's
exposure to pesticides in apples and pears
(PDF format - 36K) Jul
2004
Peer reviewed and published research by Friends of the Earth shows that
up to 220 young children per day could be exposed to residue levels
in excess of internationally accepted safety levels just from eating
a single apple or pear. This occurred even when the pesticide residue
was below the legal limit and was a particular problem for imported
produce.
Bayer's
pesticides: why it is important that Bayer’s pesticide safety data
is freely available
(PDF format - 69K) Jun
2004
This briefing gives background information on Bayer’s pesticide
operations around the world and
looks at some of the available health and environmental safety information
for three of their pesticides.
Access to
information on pesticides
(PDF format - 89K) Jun
2004
The pesticide approval process remains one of the last strongholds of
secrecy, where corporations still wield enormous financial muscle to
try to minimise the public’s “right to know”. This briefing
outlines Friends of the Earth’s demands for greater transparency
on pesticides approvals
Every Little
Hurts: Why Tesco needs to be tamed
(PDF format - 60K) Jun
2004
Tesco's share of the grocery market gives it tremendous power over suppliers,
but evidence suggests that the supermarket giant is abusing
that power. Evidence from small shops, consumers, farmers and overseas
suppliers flags up the damage that Tesco is doing to communities and
the environment.
The
Voluntary Initiative and water pollution
(PDF format - 226K) Mar
2004
This briefing looks at the Voluntary Initiative to reduce pesticide
use through changing farmer behaviour and examines the findings of the
Cherwell Study into how this approach has affected levels of pesticide
residues in surface water.
GM contamination:
how to prevent GM contamination of the food chain and countryside
(PDF format - 346K) Mar
2004
This briefing describes the minimum measures that would be necessary
to ensure that food chains, crops and the countryside remained free
of GM contamination if the Government were to grant commercial approval
for a genetically modified (GM) crop to be cultivated or imported into
the UK.
GM fodder
maize: why Chardon LL should not become the UK's first commercial GM
crop
(PDF format - 159K) Mar
2004
This briefing outlines the problems associated with GM maize and why
Friends of the Earth thinks it
would be a mistake for the Government to give it the commercial go-ahead.
Alliance
calls for new supermarket Code and Watchdog
(PDF format - 123K) Jan
2004
A new alliance of environmental, farming and consumer organisations
is calling for a new statutory code of practice to be imposed on the
biggest supermarkets and for a ‘retail regulator’ to be appointed
to ensure that the new code is enforced and is working effectively.
Why we need
a GM Contamination and Liability Bill now
(PDF format - 126K) Jan
2004
This briefing explains why we are putting forward the GM Contamination
and Liability Bill. New laws are essential to prevent GM crops contaminating
the countryside and food chain, and to ensure biotech companies pay
for any harm they may cause.
Home grown
apples in short supply...
(PDF format - 146K) Nov
2003
This briefing gives the results of our consumer survey of apple, potato
and carrot sourcing and pricing in a variety of retail outlets. For
the third year running we found that the biggest supermarkets are not
supporting UK apple growers.
How
supermarkets avoid planning controls
(PDF format - 113K) Jul
2003
Asda-Walmart is building mezzanine floors in existing stores to expand
its retail floorspace
without having to obtain planning permission. The
addition of significant areas of floorspace may have significant impacts
on local shops and traffic levels. This briefing explains how an amendment
to the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill could close this loophole
and require assessment to be carried out by local planning authorities.
Unleashing
a new pollution?
(PDF format - 636K) Jul
2003
One of the main concerns about the commercial growing of GM
oilseed rape is that it could cross breed with closely related plant
species that grow wild in the UK.
Friends of the Earth has used the most recent botanical survey data
to map the location of these plants. The results show that there is
no "safe area" to grow GM
oilseed rape.
Tesco: Exposed
(PDF format - 136K) Jun
2003
Friends of the Earth is attending AGMs
to expose companies' records of putting profit before people and the
environment. This briefing reveals how Tesco continues to make huge
profits at the expense of farmers, communities and the environment.
GM trade
war looms
(PDF format - 255K) May
2003
The WTO's Dispute
Resolution Mechanism decides
who wins and who loses in international trade wars.
This briefing exposes how it works, and explores
what may happen following the US
complaint
against the EU over GM
food.
Farmers
and the supermarket Code of Practice
(PDF format - 108K) Mar
2003
The Supermarket Code of Practice has been
criticised for being too weak and there has been plenty of anecdotal
evidence that it is not working
effectively. This briefing reveals the results of a survey of farmers
in February 2003 to find out how farmers are faring under the Code and
in general under current market conditions.
GM-free local
areas
(PDF format - 146K) Mar
2003
A guide to using the law to protect your area from GM
crops. Including what 'GM-free'
means, how you can use EU
legislation to help your campaign and what your local authority can
do.
Super
Markets or Corporate Bullies?
(PDF format) Mar 2003
Supermarkets claim to offer us a wide variety of cheap, convenient food.
But do they? And at whose expense? This briefing looks at the power
supermarkets wield over both their suppliers and their customers.
Genetically Modified
Crops and Food
(PDF format) July 2001,
updated January 2003
A comprehensive introduction to the GM
debate:
- What is GM?
- Concerns about GM
crops and food
- GM crops and food
in the UK
- Government failures
- Feeding the world
- Alternatives
British
Apples for Sale
(PDF†) November 2002
The results of our consumer survey of apple sourcing and pricing in
supermarkets, greengrocers and markets.
Supermarkets
and Great British Fruit
(PDF†) October 2002
The impossible conditions placed on British apple and pear growers
by supermarkets.
Market
Forces
(PDF format - 124K) Oct
2002, updated Feb 2004
Customer demand has removed the majority of GM
materials from our food. The prospects for any significant market for
GM crops and food in
the UK in the next few years are poor, as there continues to be no demand
for GM food in the UK.
GM food
safety
(PDF format - 137K) Oct
2002
The safety of GM foods
remains in serious doubt. Genetic engineering is a difficult and fairly
haphazard procedure, and the use of substantial equivalence in safety
testing of the finished product is inadequate to prove that they are
safe.
Gene
flow
(PDF format - 126K) Oct
2002, updated Feb 2004
Cross pollination of GM
crops and other crops or wild relatives could lead to widespread contamination.
There are serious concerns about how GM
and non-GM crops can
grow and co-exist in the future.
Liability
and GM crops
(PDF format - 152K) Oct
2002
Currently there is no legislation to require biotech companies to pay
compensation or clear up any damage caused by their crops. If GM
food and crops are as safe as the industry says they are, why won't
it accept liability for any damage caused?
The Farm
Scale Trials
(PDF format - 113K) Oct
2002
The Farm Scale Trials have been heavily criticised since their introduction
in 2000 by a variety of environmental organisations, local residents,
and even the Government’s GM
watchdog, the Agriculture Environmental Biotechnology Commission (AEBC).
Herbicide
use and GM crops
(PDF format - 129K) Oct
2002, updated Feb 2004
If GM crops
get the commercial go-ahead in the UK,
herbicide tolerant crops will be the first to be grown. Claims of their
environmental benefits are looking increasingly doubtful.
The
GM regulatory process
(PDF format - 77K) Oct
2002
Before any GM
plant can be grown in the UK,
or a GM food sold on the market, there are several regulatory hurdles
that it must pass through. GM
legislation originates in Europe and is implemented in the
UK under domestic laws.
Seed purity
(PDF format - 130K) Oct
2002
In order to protect the public's right to choose non-GM
food, or for farmers to grow non-GM
crops, it is essential that seed stocks remain free of genetically modified
organisms (GMO's).
This will become increasingly difficult to achieve if
GM crops are grown widely in the UK.
Economic
impact of GM
(PDF format - 127K) Oct
2002
The Government and the biotech industry are promoting GM
crops on the economic benefits they will supposedly bring. However,
after several years of growing them in the US,
the evidence of the economic benefits is far from clear.
GM
crops and food security
(PDF format - 120K) Oct
2002
Many people, not least those who live in countries where hunger
persists, believe that a technological fix will at best address the
symptoms of hunger and malnutrition, but not the causes. Many fear that
corporate control over the food chain through patents and the ownership
of seeds may even exacerbate the problem.
T25 maize
(PDF format - 123K) Oct
2002
T25 maize is a GM herbicide
tolerant crop, intended to be grown in the
UK as fodder for cattle. In the course of Friends of the Earth's
investigations into its approval, serious failings in the regulatory
process and flaws in the scientific research were discovered.
Pesticides
in Supermarket food
(PDF format 122K) Oct
2002, updated July 2004
This briefing shows how we rated supermarkets according to their current
and future policy on pesticides.
The pesticides
in our food
(PDF format - 155K) Sep
2002, updated Aug 2004
An overview of the types of pesticides that are found in our food and
why they are of concern.
Your right to
object to GM crops
(PDF format - 143K) Jul
2002
The 'National List' regulations are the only formal opportunity for
the public to object to the commercial licensing of GM
crops. This briefing examines the implications of proposed changes and
tells you how to object.
Into the mouths of
babes
(PDF format - 54K) Mar
2002
Children are exposed to pesticides from the moment they are conceived
yet very little is know about the long term effects of this exposure.
The Government and supermarkets should do more to protect children from
pesticides.
Do
we really know what pesticides are in our food?
(PDF format - 73K) Dec
2001
A review of the testing procedures used to assess the amounts of pesticide
residues in food.
Greening
the Red Tractor
(PDF format) Dec 2001
In June 2000, a new food mark - the British Farm Standard - was launched.
The logo is a Red Tractor and is being heavily promoted as providing
assurance that food bearing the mark has been produced to high environmental,
animal welfare and safety standards. Friends of the Earth feels that
the scheme, as it stands, fails to live up to its promises both to farmers
and consumers.
Bad Science,
Bad Decisions: The evidence against Aventis' GM maize
(PDF format) March 2001
This briefing looks at the bad science and poor decisions behind T25
GM maize gaining marketing approval. The maize has not been proven safe
to humans, animals or the environment. The attempts made to commercialise
it should stop and its marketing consent should be revoked.
The Farm
Scale Trial crops - GM maize, beet and oilseed rape
(PDF format) Mar 2001
This briefing provides basic information about the crops being grown
in the Farm Scale Trials (FST's). Three crops are being grown: fodder
maize, oil seed rape and beet.
The economic benefits
of farmers' markets
(PDF format) Aug 2000
This briefing sets out the economic, social and environmental benefits
of farmers' markets, with recommendations for Government, local authorities
and regional development agencies.
Farmers'
Briefing: GM Crops and Animal Feed
July 2000
This briefing is intended to help farmers assess whether or not to grow
genetically modified (GM)
crops and to highlight the risks of
GM animal feeds.
Contaminated
GM Crops
(PDF format) May 2000
The accidental' release of GM
oilseed rape into the UK countryside.
Endocrine
Disrupting Pesticides - European Priority List
(PDF format) Feb 2000
Pesticides on the European Commission's Priority list should be banned
or have their approval suspended. This is because the list identifies
chemicals, including pesticides, which are believed to damage health
by interfering with the way hormones work.
Genetically
Modified Food and Crops: Our Right to a Local Referendum
(PDF format) Feb 2000
How to use existing legislation to call a local referendum and how this
can help local campaigns against GM
foods and crops.
Farm
Scale Trials of GM crops - in depth
Dec 1999
This briefing looks at the trials of GM
herbicide tolerant crops. It examines what these trials aim to find
out and whether they will provide hard evidence of the environmental
safety of GM crops.
Endocrine
disrupting pesticides
Oct 1999
Endocrine disrupting pesticide residues in food pose a significant health
risk to humans. The scientific information currently available suggests
a highly precautionary approach is needed to avoid serious health problems
in the future.
Bees, Honey
and Genetically Modified Crops
Sept 1999
Growing GM crops in
the UK will pose a serious
threat to beekeepers and honey production in the UK.
This briefing covers the issues of food safety, liability, the cost
to beekeepers and the threat to wild bee populations.
The SCIMAC Code of Practice
and Guidelines for Growing Genetically Modified Crops: A Critique by
Friends of the Earth
Spring 1999
The industry body, the Supply Chain Initiative on Modified Agricultural
Crops, has proposed a voluntary code of practice for farmers involved
in the commercial growing of GM
crops. This briefing exposes serious flaws in these guidelines.
Antibiotic
Resistance Genes in GM Foods
April 1999
Many genetically modified (GM)
plants contain antibiotic resistance marker genes. This briefing shows
how these genes might spread, threatening the effectiveness of some
of our most important antibiotic drugs.
Farm
Scale Evaluations of Genetically Modified Crops: Comments by Friends
of the Earth, March 1999
March 1999
The proposals for farm-scale evaluations of GM
crops do not provide sufficient protection for neighbouring
farmers and the environment. This briefing explains why they should
not proceed in 1999.
Independent
International Lawyer's Opinion on the Legality of the UK Government
Imposing a Moratorium on the Growing of GM Crops in the UK
Feb 1999
This Opinion, requested by Friends of the Earth and the RSPB, supports
the view that a moratorium on the commercial growing of GM
seeds would not be contrary to EU
and WTO law.
Competition Commission: Provisional decision on remedies relating to supply chain practices
(PDF† format - 93K) Mar 2008
Competition Commission: Provisional decision on planning remedies
(PDF† format - 100K) Mar 2008
Friends of the Earth’s response to Leeds University's application to grow GM potatoes
(PDF† format - 121K) Mar 2008
Friends of the Earth’s response to the Competition Commission: Notice of Possible Remedies
(PDF† format - 175K) Nov 2007
Friends of the Earth's objection to BASF's GM blight-resistant potato trials
(PDF† format - 52K) April 2007
Friends of the Earth's response to the Government's consultation on options for implementing the environmental liability directive
(PDF† format - 64K) March 2007
Friends of the Earth's response to Defra's consultation on proposals for managing the coexistence of GM, conventional and organic crops in England
(PDF† format - 791K) October 2006
GM 'coexistence' consultation - Summary of the legal opinion
(PDF† format - 209K) November 2006
GM 'coexistence' consultation - Legal opinion
(PDF† format - 73K) October 2006
Friends of the Earth’s response to the
Office of Fair Trading: proposed decision
to make a market investigation
reference of the grocery market
(PDF† format - 78K) April 2006
Our response to the proposal by the Office of Fair Trading to refer the grocery market to the Competition Commission for a market investigation.
Friends
of the Earth's response to the Draft National Strategy for the Sustainable
Use of Plant Protection Products
(PDF format - 98K) Jun
2005
Our response to the Government's long-awated pesticide strategy consultation.
Unfortunately the document provides little clarity, appearing to be
more of a scoping document than a detailed strategy.
Friends
of the Earth's response to ODPM's Consultation paper "Planning
Control of Mezzanine and Other Internal Floorspace Additions"
(PDF format - 44K) Apr
2005
Friends the Earth strongly welcomes the Government’s decision to
close the loophole in planning legislation which allows supermarkets
and other retailers to build mezzanine floors and expand retail floorspace
without the need for planning permission.
Developing
measures to promote catchment-sensitive farming: Response by Friends
of the Earth
(PDF format 83K) September
2004
Friends of the Earth's response to the joint DEFRA-HM Treasury consultation:
Developing measures to
promote catchment-sensitive farming. This response looks at the problems
involved in dealing with
diffuse water pollution.
Consultation
on Draft Planning Policy Statement
Six: Planning for Town Centres. Summary of key points from Friends of
the Earth's response
(PDF format 112K) March
2004
This Consultation was issued in December 2003 alongside a commitment
from Government to the regeneration of town and city centres. The key
principles of the guidance are good, but the paper is full of contradictions.
Town centres are still at risk of becoming ghost towns, and unless the
detail of the guidance is strengthened, the Government will effectively
be giving the go-ahead for major multiples to increase their domination
of retailing.
Proposals
for the introduction of no-spray buffer zones around residential properties
(PDF format 37K) November
2003
Friends of the Earth's comments on proposals for introduction of no-spray
buffer zones around residential properties in England and Wales.
Access
to information about crop spraying
(PDF format 51K) August
2003
Friends of the Earth's response to the Government's proposal to improve
access to information about crop spraying.
Friends
of the Earth's submission to the Competition Commission regarding the
proposed acquisition of Safeway
(PDF format 126K) April
2003
Comments submitted to the Competition Commission on the proposed
acquisition of Safeway by Morrison, Sainsbury, Tesco and Wal-Mart (Asda)
in addition to those made to the Office of Fair Trading.
Friends of the Earth's submissions to the Office of Fair Trading regarding
the proposed acquisition of Safeway
(PDF format) February
2003
Letters were sent from Friends of the Earth to the Office of Fair Trading
relating to the proposed acquisition of Safeway by Asda-Walmart, Morrison’s,
Sainsbury’s and Tesco. The letter relating to Tesco is shown here;
the other letters are available on request.
Response
to the consultation on the proposed changes to the National List written
representations and hearings procedures
(PDF format) November
2002
Friends of the Earth's response to the proposed changes to the 'seed
listing' regulations
Consultation
on the EC proposals on the thresholds for Adventitious Presence of Approved
GMOs in Seeds - A Response from Friends of the Earth
(PDF format) August
2002
Consultation response to the EC
proposals for the new Directive on Seed Purity which will lay down thresholds
for GM contamination.
Response
to the Policy Commission on the Future of Food and Farming
(PDF format) October
2001
Friends of the Earth welcomes the establishment of the Commission but
criticises the short time it has been given and its restricted terms
of reference. Friends of the Earth goes beyond these to propose radical
solutions to the present food and agricultural crisis.
Comment
on 'Report on the separation distances required to ensure cross-pollination
is below specified limits in non-seed crops of sugar beet, maize and
oilseed rape'
(PDF format) Sept 2000
A response from Friends of the Earth to this report published by the
Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food.
Organic
Farming Scheme
(PDF format) Feb 2000
Friends of the Earth comment on
MAFF's consultation on the Organic Farming Scheme.
The
Pesticides Safety Directorate Review of the Impact of Herbicide use
on Genetically Modified Crops - a Response by Friends of the Earth
Jan 1999
Friends of the Earth welcomes the PSD's
attempt to evaluate the environmental consequences of the release of
GM herbicide tolerant
crops. However, many points are raised in favour of GM
crops which are unsupported and contradictory.
Friends of the Earth's response to the Competition Commission: Grocery Market Investigation
(PDF† format - 68K) June 2006
This is Friends of the Earth's first submission to the Competition Commission's grocery market investigation.
Proposal
for a market study for OFT consideration
(PDF format 114K) Nov
2004
This application for a full OFT
Market Study into specific aspects of the grocery market was submitted
by Friends of the Earth, the Association of Convenience Stores, FARM
and the National Federation of Women’s Institutes. The application
highlights the damaging impacts of market concentration on small stores,
on farmers and on consumer choice.
Royal
Commision study on pesticides and bystander exposure - response from
Friends of the Earth
(PDF format 27K) Nov
2004
Friends of the Earth's submission of evidence to the Royal Commission's
study on pesticides and bystander exposure. The evidence includes new
research on toddlers' exposure to pesticides, uncertainties about health
effects and recommendations on how the Government can reduce pesticide
use.
Submission
to the Environmental Audit Committee on the Pesticides Voluntary Initiative
from Friends of the Earth and PAN-UK.
(PDF format 100K) Dec
2003
Friends of the Earth and PAN-UK submitted joint evidence to the Environmental
Audit Committee’s inquiry into the Voluntary Initiative (VI) in
2002 (see below). We consider that there has been little change in the
progress of the VI over the last year and that there are some new areas
of concern.
Why
the voluntary initiative will not deliver on the Government's pesticide
objectives -a
submission by Friends of the Earth and PAN-UK.
(PDF format) Nov
2002
This report explains why Friends of the Earth and PAN UK
consider that the measures set out in the Voluntary Initiative will
fail to deliver on the Government's stated pesticide objectives. In
addition it sets out our concerns about the process and our involvement
in the Steering Group.
Proofs of evidence from the Chardon LL Public Hearing
The following evidence was submitted to the National Seed List Hearings which ran from October to November 2000. The hearings considered public objections to the UK Government proposal to add Chardon LL maize, a variety of T25 maize developed by Aventis, to the National Seed List.
An analysis
of the Chicken Study, By Dr Steve Kestin and Dr Toby Knowles
(PDF format) Nov
2000
For "the Chicken Study" itself : The effect of Glufosinate Resistant
Corn on Growth of Male Broiler Chickens. Department of Animal and
Poultry Sciences, University of Guelph. Report No. A56379; July
12, 1996, Click
Here
An
assessment of outcrossing in maize, relevant to the proposed decision
to add GM maize variety Chardon LL to the National List. By Professor
Jean Emberlin
(PDF format) Oct
2000
Risks
posed by horizontal gene transfer with regard to Chardon LL maize.
By Dr Ricarda Steinbrecher
(PDF format) Oct
2000
Changes
to the Regulation of the Environmental Safety of Releasing Genetically
Modified Organisms into the Environment since December 1998. By
Dr Susan Mayer
(PDF format) Oct
2000
Analysis
of key documents relevant to the safety of Chardon LL for animal
feed purposes. By Dr C V Howard
(PDF format) Oct
2000
Statement
on required testing of GM forage for feeding to animals, relevant
to the proposed decision to add GM maize variety Chardon LL to the
National List. By Dr Bob Orskov
(PDF format) Sept
2000
Environmental
Audit Committee Inquiry into GMOs and the Environment: Memorandum by
Friends of the Earth
April 1999
In this submission Friends of the Earth conclude that there is insufficient
opportunity for debate on GM,
and that the current process for monitoring these crops is inadequate.
Who benefits from GM crops? The rise in pesticide use
(PDF† format - 898K) Feb 2008
Who benefits from GM crops? The rise in pesticide use: executive summary
(PDF† format - 956K) Feb 2008
Who benefits from GM crops? The rise in pesticide use: Q&A
(PDF† format - 35K) Feb 2008
Who benefits from GM crops? Monsanto and the corporate-driven genetically modified crop revolution
(PDF† format - 843K) Jan 2006
Who benefits from GM crops: Key Facts
(PDF† format - 46K) Jan 2006
The
oil for ape scandal: How palm oil is threatening the orang-utan
(PDF† 448K) Sept
2005
This summary report links the demand for palm oil, a vegetable oil found
in 1 in 10 supermarket products, to the impending extinction of the
orang-utan, rainforest destruction and human rights abuses.
An analysis
of the findings of the BRIGHT trials with GM herbicide tolerant crops
(PDF format 352K) March
2005
This report considers the findings of the BRIGHT project (Botanical
and Rotational Implications of Genetically Modified Herbicide Tolerance
in winter oilseed rape and sugar beet), a four year study, jointly funded
by Government and industry, which was intended to consider the agronomic
and environmental issues of growing genetically modified herbicide tolerant
crops.
The Voluntary
Initiative Catchment Projects - are they really working?
(PDF format 429K) November
2004
One of the key projects of the Voluntary Initiative (VI) (set
up as an alternative to a pesticide tax) aims to reduce herbicide pollution
of water in six catchments, and the VI has claimed that “it’s
working”. Friends of the Earth’s analysis shows that it is
not possible to attribute changes in pollution levels to the VI; that
pollution incidents are still occurring; and that the advice given to
farmers in the VI projects is very difficult to follow in practice.
Keeping your
area GM free
(PDF format 307K) October
2003
A guide to EU decision making
for Local Authorities and National Parks. Decisions on applications
to grow GM crops in Europe are being made now. This report provides
guidance on how to make a case for exemption under Article 19 of the
EU Directive on GMOs
for each crop.
Regional information to accompany report:
Breaking
the pesticide chain
(PDF format - 699K) Jul
2003
From July 2003, 320 pesticide active ingredients are being withdrawn
from the European market as a result of an ongoing safety review of
all pesticides by the European Commission. This report examines the
reasons behind the withdrawal of so many pesticides, and the extent
to which this will benefit human health and the environment. It addresses
the question of why existing alternatives to pesticides have not been
made available to UK farmers.
Science as a
smokescreen?
(PDF format 793K) March
2002
It seems likely that the conclusions of the Farm Scale Evaluations of
GM herbicide tolerant
crops will be uncertain and may simply raise further questions. It is
vital that this is acknowledged, and that equivocal results are not
used as a smokescreen for Government decisions that are motivated by
a political desire to proceed with the commercialisation of GM
crops.
Local food,
future directions
(PDF format 1.53MB) November
2002
A report investigating alternative food marketing systems based on re-localisation,
looking at the benefits such schemes can bring, the barriers they face
and how Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) can help to establish such
schemes.
Merseyside
local food initiative
(PDF format - 440K) June
2002
An investigation into the economic, environmental and social benefits
of a local food project on Merseyside.
Get real about
food and farming - Friends of the Earth's vision for the future of farming
in the UK
(PDF format) October
2001
Farming is in crisis. For half a century, food and farming policy has
put production ahead of food quality and environmental protection. Get
real about food and farming is a clear blueprint with practical policy
recommendations for improving every step of the food chain.
Health
and environmental impacts of glufosinate ammonium
(PDF format) May 2001
The implications of increased use of glufosinate ammonium (produced
by Aventis), in association with genetically modified crops.
Health and environmental
impacts of glyphosate
(PDF format) May 2001
The implications of increased use of glyphosate (produced by Monsanto),
in association with genetically modified crops.
The great food
gamble
(PDF format) May 2001
GM food and feed safety
are a matter of hot debate. This report outlines the methods that are
used to assess the safety of these new foods before they go on the market.
It suggests that the current systems fall short of what is expected
by the public.
Sound Science? - the
evidence against Aventis' GM maize
(PDF format) Feb 2001
This report considers the evidence surrounding the marketing approval
of T25 GM Maize. It
argues that the marketing consents for T25 maize and its processed products
be suspended.
GMOs: The
Case for a Moratorium
Oct 1998
In this report, Friends of the Earth makes its case for a legally permitted,
Government established five-year moratorium on:
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