UK votes to allow sale of GM sweet corn, but EU moratorium on 
GM remains in place.

  Response from the Five Year Freeze

  PRESS RELEASE  for immediate release - 8th Dec 2003


  The Five Year Freeze Campaign welcomes the maintenance of the 
EU de facto moratorium on GM food approvals in today's vote of 
the Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health in Brussels.

  Carrie Stebbings of the Five Year Freeze said "We are disappointed 
that the UK, represented by the Food Standards Agency, voted in favour 
of breaking the current moratorium. The FSA is meant to be the champion 
of food safety for the British consumer but they have ignored the 
results of the GM Public Debate that showed the majority of the public 
want a precautionary approach to the introduction of GM. Luckily other 
European countries voted against ending the moratorium and have 
prevented the UK's view having any force".

  The FSA has also ignored the Government's own Science Review that 
highlighted the doubts that still remain about the long term effects 
of GM food and crops on health and the environment by trying to rush 
through the approval of Syngenta's GM sweet corn, known as Bt11, 
before strict new EU labelling and traceability laws come in to force 
in April next year.

  NOTES:

  The Five Year Freeze is an alliance of over 120 national organisations 
calling for a continued moratorium on GM food and crops.
 
See www.fiveyearfreeze.org for a list of supporters.

  Carrie Stebbings
  FIVE YEAR FREEZE CAMPAIGN
  The Genetic Engineering Alliance
  94 White Lion Street
  London
  N1 9PF
  Tel: 020 7837 0642/01273 822700
  Fax: 020 7837 1141
   
  carrie@fiveyearfreeze.org
  www.fiveyearfreeze.org