The announcement that German company BASF will not be growing GM potatoes here this year will give the Environmental Protection Agency time to revoke permission to grow them next year, Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said yesterday.
BASF confirmed yesterday that due to the limited time restrictions of the planting season, it has decided not to conduct the field trials in 2006 for which an EPA licence had been received.
"The consent document contains a number of conditions, and BASF Plant Science has been in contact with the EPA in order to seek clarification on certain areas.
"Due to the limited time restrictions of the planting season, it has been decided not to conduct the field trials in 2006," said its statement.
"The field trial is due to take place on a farm at Arodstown, Summerhill, Co Meath. The approval is for a trial period from 2006 to 2010. A full schedule and outline of the proposed trial was included in the formal notification to the EPA," it continued.
Mr Sargent said the EPA must now use this opportunity to reverse its previous decision to allow any GM trials in Ireland. "Now is the opportunity to ensure that Ireland remains a GM free producing island," he said.