Talks are hotting up as we head towards the possibility of the first genetically modified crop on the UK market.

The government has held two hearings in the last two weeks to debate the controversial GM introduction.

GM advisors met on February 20 to review disputed safety claims surrounding the first GM crop to be approved for commercial sale, modified maize owned by Aventis.

Friends of the Earth is calling on the government to ban the crop following evidence from a number of scientists critical of the tests carried out to support commercial approval.

Previous public hearing in 2000 collapsed after it was discovered that official tests on the seeds had only been carried out for one year, rather than the two required.

It emerged at this latest hearing that tests on the crop for cattle-feed had been carried out on chickens, not cows and many of these chickens died.

Adrian Bebb, GM campaigner at Friends of the Earth said: 'The fact that poor and incomplete science didn't prevent government advisors from giving it the go-ahead is a major cause for concern, and highlights the lack of rigour applied to GM food and crops.' Aventis has now disowned the research and agreed that further approval cannot go through.

The government advisors will now come to a decision as to whether they will advise taking the product off the market.

The second hearing that took place in the House of Lords the following Wednesday February 27 was on the subject of new EU legislation on GM labelling and tracability and involved representatives from the American government.

The fact that GM crops were introduced 'through the back door' was brought to light and UK representatives concerned made it clear that any introduction into this country must be 'through the front door', according to Adrian Bebb.

'It is unclear where America stands on this issue as they had previously signed an agreement saying that proper labelling on GM foods is 'paramount' but now they are not following this. They kept repeating that they were fully behind the UK food standard agency, who have just been doing everything the US government tells them anyway', said Bebb.

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