GM tensions dig in

Plans by local authorities, towns, national parks and even states in Europe to set up genetically modified free zones to stop the controversial crops being grown in their areas are in deep confusion following new EU guidelines announced last month. Combined with uncertainty over who would be legally liable if genetic contamination takes place and the World Trade Organisation's pending case against the EU, it looks increasingly unlikely that any European farmer will rush to plant the crops, even though it may be legal to do so within months. A disparate European movement of regional authorities is rapidly growing to try to ban the crops on a local level. Somerset, have voted to set up zones. Many district and town councils, have also voted against the crops. The assessment of GM crops in Britain has also been hampered by the resignation of one of the members of the panel studying the potential impact of such crops in the British countryside. Carlo Leifert, an expert in organic farming based at the University of Newcastle, left the committee amid allegations that he was facing pressure to toe the biotech line. The panel's report, published last month, found no evidence that eating modified food poses a threat to health and concluded that GM crops arèvery unlikely to invade our countryside or become problamatic plants.' However, critics said that the panel's research had not been rigorous enough to provide a solid foundation for GM policy. The review is one of three strands of research-the others being a national consultation and an economic study-aimed at helping the government to decide whether or not to allow GM crops to be commercially grown in the UK. A decision is expected later this year. But British wranglings are likely to be overshadowed by Brussels, which will decide EU-wide police unless there are exceptional local issues. One region hoping to win just such status is Britain's Lake District National Park. The park has become the first such park to vote against such crops, and the Welsh Assembly has also declared its opposition. Elsewhere in Europe, regions of Italy, France, Germany and Austria have declared that they will not allow GM crops to be grown in their areas. In many cases, the regions believe it would make commercial sense to be able to market their produce as`GM free'. Several regions in Europe are seeking to declare themselves GM-crop free zones …