The Government yesterday approved the commercial growing of one variety of genetically-modified (GM) maize.

Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett gave a qualified green light to the herbicide tolerant maize for animal feed but rejected commercial cultivation of GM beet and oilseed rape.

She made the long-awaited and controversial announcement in the Commons.

Her statement follows five years of consultation, farm-scale trials and a major public survey which showed 90 per cent of the public were against GM crops.

Mrs Beckett said she believed her approach "is the right one, it is precautionary, it is evidence-based", while admitting the issue was "difficult, bedevilled by confusion".

The Government move was supported by the British Medical Association, which said it backed the idea of approaching GM on a "case-by-case" basis. The Royal Society also welcomed the decision.

But there was criticism from environmental and consumer groups and Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs, who complained not enough research had been carried out and GM crops were neither wanted or needed.

The Environment Secretary said GM maize for animal feed would be subject to "further important conditions".

She said: "Restrictions should be imposed on the existing EU marketing consent, which expires in October 2006, so this maize can only be grown and managed as in the trials or under such conditions as will not result in adverse effects on the environment."

Mrs Beckett acknowledged there were many "legitimate concerns about gene stacking, cross pollination and much else".

But she said farmers who want to grow GM crops should comply with a statutory code of practice and the EU labelling rules.

She would be consulting with stakeholders "on options for providing compensation to non-GM farmers who suffer financial loss through no fault of their own.

"But I must make clear any such compensation scheme would need to be funded by the GM sector itself, rather than by Government or producers of non-GM crops.

"The Government will also provide guidance to farmers interested in establishing voluntary GM-free zones in their areas, consistent with EU legislation."

Wednesday March 10, 2004