May 23, 2000 / PA News / Amanda Brown, Environment Correspondent
UK Agriculture Minister Nick Brown was cited as insisting today there are "no health or environmental risks" following the accidental planting of genetically modified oilseed rape on 600 farms.
The minister, who faced questions from a Commons committee of MPs on the blunder disclosed last week, was cited as adding there were legal issues involved.
The contamination which has resulted in over 30,000 acres being planted with GM seed, centres on supplies produced by Advanta and imported from Canada.
The Government was first told on April 17 about the mistake, but did not make it public until a month later.
Labour MP Paul Marsden (Shrewsbury and Atcham) was cited as challenging Mr Brown today to admit the row was "a public relations disaster" for the Government, asking, "Would it not have been the right course of action to destroy the crops and reassure the public that there was no damage?"
Mr Brown, who repeated his assurances about safety, was quoted as telling journalists later that, "There are a number of legal issues that are still being examined within government. However the Government knows of no reason why the crops should be destroyed on health or environmental grounds."
(posted without permission)
