We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.No evidence GM crops used as animal feed
CLAIMS that a Mid Wales farmer grew genetically modified (GM) maize and supplied the harvested crop to neighbouring farmers for use as animal feed have been fully investigated by Powys County Council.
The council’s Trading Standards Service, which started its investigation at the beginning of the year following numerous complaints concerning cross contamination and crops being fed to stock, has concluded that there is no evidence that GM crops were circulated to any farms in the Powys area or fed to any stock in the county.
The claims were made by Welsh border farmer, Jonathan Harrington, earlier in the year.
“This was a serious claim which caused considerable concern in the farming community and was fully investigated by officers,” Cllr Graham Brown, the council’s board member for public protection, said today (Tuesday, August 4).
“I would like to reassure the community that we found no evidence that GM crops were circulated to any farms in the Powys area or fed to any stock in the county.”
But Mr Harrington, who runs the agricultural consultancy Optima Excel, stands by his claim of having grown GM maize on land around his farm at Penylan, between Felindre and Hay-on-Wye close to the Breconshire-Herefordshire border.
He is also on record as saying he will do the same this year in defiance of Welsh Assembly policy.
- The Welsh Assembly Government is currently consulting on a proposed co-existence regime for Wales that would minimise any unwanted genetically modified material in non-GM crops. Closing date is September 22.
- Visit new.wales.gov.uk/consultations/environmentandcountryside/090630coexistenceofcrops/?lang=en for details.