Keep Wales GM-free
10 August 2009

GM is a way of producing crops by taking genes from one organism and putting them into another to change the way it grows.

Friends of the Earth Cymru believes that GM crops shouldn't be grown because:

Safety not proven
Most safety testing is carried out by the companies who have created the crops
Threats to farming
Genes from GM plants could contaminate non-GM and organic crops
Harm to wildlife
GM crops could lead to greater use of harmful chemicals

The Welsh Assembly Government supports a GM-free Wales, and is currently setting new rules to prevent GM contamination.

Their proposal would give farmers and consumers in Wales strong protection from GM contamination.

The measures include:

Register of where crops are to be grown
Advance notification to those in vicinity
Wales being a voluntary GM-free zone
GM industry compensates for damage

Have your say

These proposals send a clear signal to biotech companies that their GM crops are not welcome in Wales. But the GM industry will try and weaken this proposal.

Send a clear message to Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones that we want the strongest possible measures to keep Wales GM-free.

If you have time, please adapt and personalise the text.

Email Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones

Dear Minister

I am writing to respond to the Consultation on the Welsh Assembly Government's proposal on GM coexistence measures. I welcome the proposal, and believe it is crucial to have a clear and transparent system that sets duties on the growers and handlers of GM crops. There should be statutory liability on the industry for damage caused to the environment or to farmers' livelihoods. I strongly support the proposal to establish an all-Wales voluntary GM-free zone, and believe it is the best way to protect against the risk of contamination by GM crops. This is essential to sustain and develop Wales' reputation for high quality food products. However, I am concerned that the proposal is based on keeping contamination below 0.9%. The co-existence measures should aim to eliminate any GM contamination, whether in organic or conventional crops. I urge you to amend this proposal to set this threshold at the lowest possible detectable level. In order to include all food producers in Wales, honey producers, gardeners and allotment holders should also be included in the co-existence regime. I urge the Welsh Assembly Government to continue to take the most restrictive measures possible over GM crops in Wales, in order to protect the environment and enable Welsh farmers to supply the GM-free food that consumers want.

You can contact me by email (preferably - to save resources) or at the following address:

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Keep Wales GM-free10 August 2009

Have your say

Email Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones

Keep Wales GM-free
10 August 2009