Breaking News!

German government  shelves plans for GM trial crops!

BERLIN (AP) 25 Jan 2001  Citing the need to reassure consumers  already worried by the mad cow disease crisis, the German government said Wednesday it has shelved plans for research on genetically engineered crops.

Under the three-year plan, initiated by Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder last June, scientists were to plant test crops of genetically modified corn early this year and monitor the effects on the environment.

But Schroeder's spokesman confirmed a report in the daily Berliner Zeitung that his chief of office wrote to
biotechnology industry chiefs this week announcing the indefinite postponement of the program.

The program ``has not been cancelled but interrupted so as not to undermine consumer security with yet another
topic,'' Uwe-Karsten Heye told reporters.

``We'll take it up again when and if it becomes clear how this area can be included in a consumer program.''

Opposition to genetically modified crops is strong across Europe. Most countries, including Germany, have imposed strict restrictions on the planting of such crops.

In the United States, almost 40 percent of crops are genetically modified.

The letter from the head of Schroeder's office, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, argued that ``triggered by the BSE problem, a process of reflection on the principles and conditions of food production has begun in our society,'' the Berliner Zeitung reported.

Germany's crisis over mad cow disease -  the common name for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE -
earlier this month forced the resignation of the health and agriculture ministers.

Schroeder then appointed Renate Kuenast, a member of the Greens party, as the new agriculture minister and
announced plans to reorient the farming industry to focus more on the consumer.

Schroeder has notified farm lobbying groups that their influence will be diminished and said he aims to
``massively increase'' organic farming in Germany.

Germany's first BSE case in a domestically born and raised animal was confirmed in November. Since then, the number has grown to 17, with two more cases confirmed Wednesday.

Let's hope the beleaguered Scottish coalition government realises which side its bread is buttered.
It's an equitable life, Henry!