09 October 2002

Clamp down on GE stock feed - Kedgley

Green Party MP Sue Kedgley is calling on the Government to close a major loophole in GE laws relating to animal feed immediately, saying the current free-for-all has to stop.

ERMA confirmed last week that there are no rules at all about feeding animals GE stock food.

"It is bizarre that we have a complicated regulatory process for GE food for humans, but that GE animal food is exempt from any law," she said.

"GE stock food should be regulated in the same way as GE food destined for human use."

Ms Kedgley said she agreed with ERMA's manager of science and analysis, Dr Donald Hannah, that risks to the environment and health need to be examined, no matter whether we are talking GE cows, GE grains or GE animal food.

"At the moment we are ignoring those risks relating to GE stock food. It shoots holes in the Government's claim that we have one of the strongest GE regulatory regimes in the world.

"There is a growing consumer movement, especially in the UK, against eating meat fed on GE stock food. Sooner or later the current lax attitude is going to cause us trouble."

ENDS

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