Concerns about genetically-modified material finding its way into non-GM crops have been vindicated by indications of widespread contamination of British crops, the Socialist Party TD, Mr Joe Higgins, has said.
Concerned Irish groups had been dismissed by the genetic engineering industry as being alarmist, "but we have been proven absolutely right about the dangers", he claimed.
Moreover, he did not believe the Irish authorities were sufficiently prepared should a problem arise with crops. UK Agriculture Minister Mr Nick Brown yesterday attempted to play down Greenpeace's claim that up to 15 per cent of maize planted in Britain was "contaminated" by GM material.
This claim came after it emerged that 600 farms had planted rapeseed with the possibility of GM material in it.
"We have no indication that any conventional maize seeds imported into the UK do contain modified varieties," said Mr Brown.
But Greenpeace set a deadline for the UK government to inform affected farmers of the illegality of selling contaminated rapeseed, after which it would take the government to court. Some "contamination" of non-GM crop seed is inevitable with current agriculture and distribution systems, and some states apply a 1 per cent limit.
Officially, no GM crops may be commercially grown in the UK until 2003, when a series of government-sponsored farm trials is due to be completed. But the Ministry of Agriculture has said Advanta rapeseed crops and seed found to contain GM material did not need to be destroyed, as they are deemed to pose no risk.
