Wales MEP Jill Evans has welcomed today’s launch of a campaign at the start of the WTO conference in Cancun to get the support of citizens all over the world for a people’s intervention in the US-European Union dispute over genetically modified foods. The Global Citizen’s GMO Challenge will collect signatures by e-mail and present a submission to the headquarters of the WTO in Geneva filing a challenge counteracting the US government action.

The US has taken action against the EU in the WTO in an attempt to pressurise European countries to lift the five year de facto moratorium on new GMOs. The European Commission has already prepared a strong response to the accusation that its actions are preventing free trade. The measures have been taken because of concerns of people and governments in seven European countries in particular, about the environmental and health affects of GMOs as well as labelling and liability issues.

Plaid Cymru the Party of Wales MEP Jill Evans welcomed the move and will be circulating the appeal to the many groups in Wales who are campaigning for a GM Free Wales.

Speaking from Mexico where she is attending a conference with a delegation of MEPs, Jill Evans, Plaid Cymru's leader in the European Parliament, said:

“This is important to us in Wales and shows once again how strongly people throughout the world oppose genetically modified food. This action will show the big companies trying to force us to accept GMOs that we are still saying no. We have the right to choose what we eat and any government has the right to pass laws to ensure that our food is safe."

“Plaid Cymru will be supporting the challenge to the WTO as we support the campaign for a GM free Wales.”

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