20.10.2003 |

UK ministers reconsider their support for EU Seed Directive

Up to 600 million GM crop plants could grow in Britain annually under plans drawn up by the European Commission to be considered next week.The plans would in effect bring in GM agriculture by the back door, and seriously compromise organic farming across Europe. They could lead to European farmers growing more than six billion genetically modified crop plants every year, without realising it.British ministers will decide this week whether to back the plan at the meeting, and their verdict could be decisive. Britain has so far supported it - but ministers are now reassessing their position in the light of accumulating evidence about the hazards of GM crops.</p><p><a href="http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/environment/story.jsp?story=454870">Up to 600 million GM plants could be grown in Britain every year</a>