UK Beekeppers Want GM-Free Buffer Zone

LONDON - Sep 22/02 - SNS -- British beekeepers remain firm in their stand there needs to be a six mile buffer zone between fields sown with genetically modified (GM) crops and hives to maintain the non-GM status of British honey.

This was made clear at a recent meeting organized by the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) and attended by over 80 beekeeping delegates from across the country, including members of the Scottish and Welsh Beekeepers Associations together with representatives of the UK honey industry (Bee Farmers Association and Honey Association).

The meeting gave beekeepers an exclusive forum to discuss their concerns over impending commercial planting of genetically modified crops in the UK. They were able to put their views and question, at close quarters, representatives of DEFRA, ACRE, SCIMAC, the Agricultural Biotechnology Council and the Food Standards Agency.

The importance and relevance of the 6-mile hive-exclusion zone was debated. The BBKA policy on this was strongly endorsed and that commercial planting should not occur pending the publication of further research. It was accepted that even with such a limit, it would not be possible to totally exclude any trace of GM pollen getting into honey.

The subscriber version of the article is available by Clicking here