Natural Law Party congratulates Consumers' Association and calls for all GM produce to be removed from shelves

2 March 1999

The Natural Law Party congratulates the Consumers' Association (Which?) for their statement issued today that 'Until the Government's approval system addresses concerns about the long-term safety of genetically modified foods, no more GM foods should go on the market.'

Natural Law Party leader Dr Geoffrey Clements said: "Actually the statement should go further still. All GM produce should be removed from the shelves."

Referring to the Consumers' Association call for improved labelling, Dr Clements said: "It is time to look at the real issues. The labelling issue - including better labelling of ingredients and new proposals to label restaurant menus - is 'upside-down politics'. It clearly assumes that there are inherent dangers, but places the responsibility on the shopkeeper, restaurant owner and the consumer to sort out the mess.

"A proper and clear scientific understanding of genetic modification of food shows that it is highly unnatural, dangerous, and irreversible," Dr Clements said.

The Soil Association has added further weight to the case against GM foods with the release today of research findings by Dr Jean Emberlin, director of the National Pollen Research Institute, showing that cross-pollination from GM crops takes place at a substantial level beyond the 'acceptable separation' distance of 200 metres set by the government.

"The news that genetically modified pollen may be carried in the wind for hundreds of kilometres will come as no surprise to anyone with common sense," Dr Clements said. "However it does underline the need for an immediate ban on GM crops and foods.

"The Natural Law Party was the first political party to call for a complete ban on GM foods (1996), and each day new evidence comes to light to support this stand," Dr Clements said.

To arrange an interview with Dr Clements, please telephone 01296-662866