Organic farmers are outraged following the announcement that Ireland is to change its position to allow genetically modified grain feed into the country.
The Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association (IOFGA) has criticised Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith’s decision to scrap the “zero tolerance food safety policy, which is currently in place to protect consumers and livestock from contamination by unapproved GM ingredients.”
IOFGA claim Mr Smith’s decision “ignores consumer demands and compromises thriving export markets”, which will have “far reaching consequences.”
IOFGA also argued EU consumers had continually stated that they do not wish to have GM ingredients in the human food chain.
“The fact that the EU, now supported by the Irish government, is bowing to pressure from the GM multi-nationals mainly based in the US, does not bode well for EU consumers,” Grace Maher, IOFGA’s Development Officer said.
“Over the past number of years, Ireland has introduced stricter laws on the use of GM feed and by-products and also introduced a GM free label for livestock products fed on a non-GM diet.
“As a result, farmers and producers are supplying consumer demand both in Ireland and abroad for non-GM products.
“In a time when exports from the agricultural sector are being sold as the major success story of the Irish economy for 2010 the move today by an outgoing Minister seriously threatens the thriving export market for both organic and conventional beef and lamb producers in Ireland,” IOFGA added.
The Irish Farmers Association has backed the move on genetically modified crops however.
IFA President John Bryan said that “at a time of rising input costs, it is critical that Irish producers are not left at a disadvantage because of delays in authorising feed.”
Mr Bryan said pig producers, in particular, have been under severe pressure as their input costs have risen dramatically in the last six months.
“They are losing €15 on every pig produced, something which is not sustainable and is placing thousands of jobs at risk. They are finding it very difficult to source credit, and they must have access to the most cost-effective feed supplies to compete in the global market.”
The IFA President said this decision must clear the way to allow increased supplies of soya onto the market, which have been held up for some time.
