Press Release

20 July 2005

PAICE Slams Government’s ‘Lone Surrender’ On GM

Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs Jim Paice has tabled a Commons motion condemning the Government’s lone support for a bid by the European Commission to transfer power over GM crops from national governments to the EU.

The UK was recently the only country to vote at the Environment Council in favour of a Commission proposal to overturn member states’ bans on certain GM crops. 

Mr Paice said: “Whether or not to grow certain GM crops should be a matter for national governments, not the EU and I am glad that this has remained the case despite the best efforts of the UK Government. 

“The Government’s attempt to remove from member states the right not to grow these GM crops is an astonishing attack not only on the principle of subsidiarity but on the sovereignty of national parliaments.”