The Soil Association has indicated that Mr Watson could lose his organic certification if his produce is contaminated. ACRE has referred a decision on the case to Ministers, who have also failed to intervene. A formal submission setting out the grounds for the judicial review was sent to Environment Minister Michael Meacher and Agriculture Minister Lord Donoghue last week. Therefore, Mr Watson has no option but to proceed to judicial review. We're constantly told that this questionable technology is tightly regulated, yet this case reveals the rule book has been chucked out of the window.
Commercial pressures are over-ruling public and environmental safety.
Resorting to the courts is an expensive, last-ditch attempt to force Ministers to respect the law and regain control of this runaway industry. We strongly support this organic farmer who is standing up for his livelihood against the threat of genetic pollution. Ministers must intervene to halt this trial and tighten regulations so that farmers, organic and other, can exercise their rights to pursue their legitimate businesses without genetic interference. Environmental Audit Committee, 31st March 1998. But NIAB does not hold its own GMO release consent for such trials as required, but purports to rely on the consent held by the relevant companies.