Natural Law Party supports Local Government Association call for ban on GM food

The Natural Law Party has congratulated the Local Government Association for its decision today to recommend that all local councils ban the use of genetically modified foods. The Association's Committee for Public Protection voted to advise the 500 authorities in England and Wales to impose a five-year ban on GM foods, in their schools, care homes, and meal services.

Dr Geoffrey Clements, leader of the Natural Law Party, said: "We are delighted with this decision and the fact that many councils are already following this policy. In the absence of a ban on these foods by national government or the EU, we must look to the level of local government to provide protection to the public from what could otherwise be irreversible damage to health and the environment. Such actions as the LGA's will send a powerful signal to the government to respond properly to public opinion on this issue. We hope that many more national bodies will now follow suit.

"We believe very strongly that as long as there is any risk associated with GM foods, they should not be used" Dr Clements said. "The Prime Minister's position - that there is no firm evidence to justify a ban - is irresponsible and unscientific. The LGA's position - that the foods should be avoided until proved safe - is the correct one, and we applaud them for it. There is mounting scientific evidence of serious risks for human health and potential damage to the environment. Moreover, experts agree that agriculture can easily provide wholesome food for the whole population without turning to GM food at all."

The Natural Law Party was the first political party to take a firm stand on this issue, and has been actively campaigning since June 1996 when it launched its Campaign to Ban Genetically Modified Food. Last October, the Natural Law Party began approaching local councils encouraging them to ban genetically modified food locally and make their area a "GM-Free Zone".

For a permanent solution to the GM foods crisis, the Natural Law Party encourages a transformation to natural, sustainable systems of agriculture, particularly organic systems. At the same time, the party is calling for the introduction of well-researched and tested programmes to generate coherence and positivity in collective consciousness, since this alone will fully protect the public from the development and application of potentially damaging technologies such as genetic engineering.

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