Consultation on tighter GM rules

The plans were first announced by Elin Jones in February

Farmers, landowners and the public are being asked for their views on plans to tighten the rules on the planting of genetically modified crops in Wales.

The assembly government is consulting on measures it said would lead to greater restrictions than those in England and Northern Ireland.

Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones said they would protect traditional crops from contamination.

Plans include GM-free zones and banning GM crops in areas like national parks.

GM crop growers could be made liable if they contaminate conventional or organic crops and there could be an industry funded compensation scheme.

A national register of GM crops which the public could view is also proposed.

GM crops would need to be registered with the assembly government three months before planting.

The plans were first announced by Ms Jones earlier this year.

Our proposed measures will be more restrictive than those proposed in England and Northern Ireland Elin Jones, rural affairs minister

In 2000 AMs voted unanimously to keep Wales GM-free but the assembly government does not have powers to ban the planting of approved GM crops.

Ms Jones said: "The Welsh Assembly Government's long-standing position is to adopt the most restrictive policy on GM crops that is compatible with European Union and UK legislation.

"It is not legally possible to declare Wales GM-free, but we will continue our restrictive approach.

"I am committed to maintaining consumers right to choose food without GM presence and the ability of farmers in Wales to grow organic and conventional crops free from GM contamination.

"The intention is for co-existence to be tightly regulated in Wales.

"Our proposed measures will be more restrictive than those proposed in England and Northern Ireland."

Antagonistic approach

People have until 22 September to comment.

When Ms Jones first announced the plans in February, Labour AM Alun Davies warned they could harm research.

"For any government to take such an antagonistic approach to any valid technology is a disappointment in many ways," he said.

He urged the assembly government to listen to the public debate on GM with an "open mind."

Mr Davies insisted Wales needed to be seen throughout the world as "a place to get things done, where things happen and not a place where we seek to stop things happening and to prevent things being done".