The prospect of ensuring a GM free Wales could come a step closer this week as a result of new European rules.

Meeting in Strasbourg, MEPs are set to pass new rules allowing member states to prevent GM contamination. They will also vote on new measures, which will mean that for the first time ALL GM food and animal feed will have to be labelled. They will also be traceable so that they can be monitored and if necessary withdrawn from sale.

The tighter regulations are as a result of amendments tabled by the Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans, a long-standing anti-GM campaigner.

They will mean that EU member states can take measures making users of GMOs responsible for preventing the contamination of other crops or products. The National Assembly for Wales could pass new rules to prevent the GM pollution of organic and conventional crops.

Speaking in the debate at the European Parliament in Strasbourg today, Jill Evans MEP will say:

"These new regulations will uphold and defend the fundamental principle of consumer choice when it comes to GMOs. The Welsh Assembly has already supported the principle of a GM free Wales and passing these new rules will help enforce this. The new regulation will allow Wales to take all appropriate measures to prevent the GM contamination of conventional and organic crops.

"For some crops the only way to prevent such contamination might be an outright ban of cultivation in Wales. For all GM crops Wales should now put in place rules which prevent GM contamination and maintain the consumer's freedom of choice."

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