MPs back Alan Simpson's GM Liability Bill
Alan Simpson, MP for Nottingham South, has gained parliamentary approval for his GM Food & Producer Liability Bill. It would make producers of GM foods and crops liable for any health or environmental damage they cause. FOE helped to draft the Bill which would make directors as well as companies liable.
Simpson introduced his Bill under a "ten minute" rule on 15 November 2000. MPs backed it by 97 votes to 30. It was scheduled for "Second Reading" on 24 November. But it has no chance of becoming law unless the Government supports it. Simpson previously introduced the Bill in June 1999. For the Explanatory Memorandum, see separate page.
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GET YOUR MP TO SIGN EDM 182
Alan Simpson has now launched an Early Day Motion asking the Government to bring forward a Producer Liability Bill to clarify responsibility for GM contamination.
(See EDM 182 listing MPs already signed.)
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Alan Simpson became the first MP to take his own Government to court in Spring 1999. He supported a legal challenge to government GM policy. This was organised by FOE and backed by an all party group of MPs. The Government was accused of wanting to license GM seeds without parliamentary scrutiny, but they rapidly climbed down.
Simpson recently appeared at a public hearing into a proposal to license a new GM maize seed, T25/Chardon LL. That hearing has now been adjourned due to irregularities in the official tests.
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