There have been some very worrying developments recently within the EU concerning Genetically Modified (GM) Maize. Although at first, things seemed to be going well.

On October 24 last year, EU Member States voted against the authorisation to import and use GM maize in food. They also voted against the authorisation to import and use the same GM maize in animal feed. On December 2, EU Environment Ministers voted against the authorisation to import and process a hybrid GM maize. So you would think that there was clearly a democratic majority in the EU for banning GM maize!

Unfortunately you would be wrong!  6 weeks later, on the 13 January 2006 the European Commission (made up of unelected civil servants and political appointees - like Peter Mandelson) authorised the importation and use throughout the EU, including the UK, of these three genetically modified maize varieties produced by US company Monsanto.  This is an imported crop that is not needed in Europe and one which many think will cause irredeemable harm to our agriculture - and to us.

This is another worrying example of the views of the public and our elected representatives being ignored by people whom we had no say in appointing and have no means of controlling. Yet their decisions, in this case, as in the continuing Frenchay/Southmead Hospital saga, and the imminent imposition by the South-West Regional Assembly of thousands more houses on South Gloucestershire, have far-reaching effects on our everyday lives. What is going on??

Tony Harding

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