GM OIL SEED RAPE CONTAMINATION

Early day motion 768, tabled 22 May 2000 by Joan Ruddock (Labour). Signed by 54 members.

That this House deeply regrets the potential threat to the environment and farmers' livelihoods arising from the growing of oilseed rape contaminated by GM oilseed rape seeds sold by Advanta Seeds UK; believes that primary responsibility lies with the company for failing to test prior to marketing its own seed produced alongside GM crops of the same species; notes that these GM seeds have no European licence for commercial planting and are currently being grown only under test conditions in the UK; welcomes the Government's proposals for an international protocol on seed purity and domestic spot checks; urges the Government to investigate safe post-harvest destruction of the affected crops with compensation for farmers; and further calls upon the Government to seek the advice of English Nature to ensure post-harvest 'volunteer' plants are destroyed to minimise the risk of herbicide tolerant genes being passed to wild relatives of oilseed rape.

Signatures by party: Labour 31, Liberal Democrat 14, Labour/Co-operative 4, Conservative 2, Plaid Cymru 1, Scottish National Party 1, UUP 1.