WALES MOVING TOWARDS A CONTINUING BAN ON GM CROP CULTIVATION

1. WALESMOVING TOWARDS A CONTINUINGBAN ON GM CROP CULTIVATION WALES Cymru THE LAND OF MY FATHERS Hen WladFyNhadau

2. WELSH AGRICULTURE

3. REBECCA EVANS, DEPUTY MINISTER FOR FARMING AND FOOD IN THE WELSH GOVERNMENT RECENTLY STATED (2)

4. The current approach of the welsh government and welsh NGOs is to work towards a continuing ban on GM cultivation based on compelling grounds within the new EU regulation

5. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

6. AGRICULTURAL POLICY OBJECTIVES LAND-USE Wales has made large investments in the organic sector and wants to safeguard the agricultural land in Wales that is managed under voluntary agri-environment schemes. Wales is currently investigating some scope in the context of land-use requirements where a GM cultivation opt-out is based on nature conservation. Organic farming is an important part of the Welsh landscape. There are over 1000 organic farms in Wales, ranging from smallholdings to large estates, and 8% of the total land area is managed organically. (3)(4)

7. SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS Socio-economic effects must refer to legitimate public interests that would need to be defined and must have evidence to support them. Wide-ranging opinion polls as well as more in-depth research into the economic impacts and health/environmental safety of GM crops by the Welsh government, can lead to socio-economic reasons being the main tool used to continue the ban on GM crop cultivation in the country. Welsh NGOs are particularly interested in the following reasons for maintaining the ban on GM cultivation

8. MARCH 2015: WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION’S CANCER AGENCY IARC DECLARED THAT GLYPHOSATE IS A PROBABLE HUMAN CARCINOGEN.(7) A) EFFECTS ON THE HEALTH, SAFETY OF FARM FAMILIES AND LABOURERS IARC: Glyphosate has been detected in the blood and urine of agricultural workers, indicating absorption and that there were increases in blood markers of chromosomal damage (micronuclei) in residents of several communities after spraying of glyphosate formulations. Over 80% of GM crops worldwide are engineered to be grown with glyphosate-based herbicides (5). Massive increase of glyphosate use with GM Crops - USGS (6). Need to protect farm families and laborers in Wales from probable increased levels of harm, caused by the inevitable increase in use of glyphosate-based herbicides with the commercial cultivation of glyphosate-tolerant GM crops.

9. B) SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES Brazil’s National Cancer Institute: The report says that national consumption of agrochemicals is equivalent to 5.2 litres of agrochemicals per year for each inhabitant. Agrochemical sales increased from USD 2 billion in 2001 to 8.5 billion in 2011 (mainly due to introduction of GM crops). Massive increases in the use of glyphosate and other agrochemicals in two of the main GM crop cultivating countries (Brazil and U.S.A) is of great concern to Wales. Data on GM crop related increases in pesticide use from the U.S. Geological Survey (6)and last week from Brazil’s National Cancer Institute must be studied in detail (8). The sustainability of Welsh agriculture and our ‘clean and green’ market position can thus clearly be shown to be under threat from GM crop cultivation if the above data is taken into account.

10. C) RURAL ECONOMY AND CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE Farming and food processing industries remain the cornerstone of the Welsh rural economy. The Welsh emphasis is on competing on quality, strong branding and adding value through local processing. We, therefore, need to preserve consumer confidence and maintain our focus on a clean, green, natural environment. BY HAVING THE ABILITY TO CONTROL WHAT IS GROWN IN WALES WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN PRESERVING THESE VALUES.

11. D) SAFETY OF GM CROPS AND SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE Currently there is no scientific consensus on the safety of GM crops and their associated pesticides (9). EFSA, in the eyes of Welsh observers, has failed properly to apply the Precautionary Principle in this area. The currently planned EU KBBE (10) rat feeding trial on GM Maize NK 603 is not comprehensive enough to answer the many safety questions that have been asked by EU consumer, farming and environmental groups regarding GM crops. The EU study will only be for carcinogenicity and will not include a multigenerational or focused toxicity component.

12. D) SAFETY OF GM CROPS AND SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE We applaud the currently planned independent study ‘Factor GMO’ (11) which according to initial reports will meet the requirements for a comprehensive study. In our opinion governments from the EU should turn their attention to the ‘Factor GMO’ study, which will enable them to receive answers that allow them to make the correct decisions on regulating GM crop cultivation and their associated pesticides. Without a comprehensive study on the safety of GM crops and their associated pesticides the Welsh public will remain very cautious about GM foods and GM crops, thus cultivation of GM crops would damage consumer trust in Welsh farming and food.

13. OTHER SOCIO-ECONOMIC POINTS THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED ARE

14. DIFFICULTIES FACED • a) Would national ban be legal in the context of the WTO? • b) Already permitted Coexistence Measures under existing law. Could these take priority over a complete prohibition on cultivation in terms of proportionality? • c) Wales also faces its own country specific problems including establishing cross-border arrangements with England to ensure that Welsh farmers are protected from any possible contamination should GM crops be grown across the border.

15. THANK YOU DIOLCH YN FAWR However, despite these difficulties, the Welsh government recently stated that like a number of other EU countries which fought hard for this, they welcome the new EU decision. Wales looks forward to working with other EU countries in developing a clear pathway towards a ban on GM crop cultivation and also for a new targeted focus on supporting sustainable agricultural practices.

16. REFERENCES