GM organic impact feared by Melchett

Grocer, June 7, 2003 by Anne Bruce

Commercial production of genetically modified crops could wipe out the UK organic industry, and leave certification bodies like the Soil Association policing imports.

This worst case scenario was spelt out by SA policy director Peter Melchett as the government launched its public debate on GM this week.

Organic standards forbid GM ingredients to a tolerance of 0.1%, so cross-pollination with GM crops could see UK organic farms de-certified for five years, Melchett warned.

Commercial production of GM crops could initially be a driver of expansion in the UK organic market, sparking increased consumer uptake of organic as a GM free option, he said. However, if cross--contamination became widespread, the UK would rely on countries like Austria, Denmark and Sweden, which produce a surplus of organic food, for a GM-free option.

Melchett said: "If we became a country that grows GM all over the place, we might be a country that doesn't produce organic. We face some really key discussions. It's not a joke if you are an organic farmer. Some are very frightened."

Melchett said a lot of issues had not been fully addressed in the GM debate, and with a "staggeringly small amount of research" on the effects of GM on human health, the Food Standards Agency was "not doing its job".