Trials of genetically modified food crops should be banned on both sides of the Border, according to the deputy leader of the UUP, Mr John Taylor.
The Ulster Unionist politician said enough crop trials were under way in England and the Continent. "This is the kind of practical cross-Border co-operation which there should be in our island. There is absolutely no need for such trial crops in the island of Ireland," he said.
Mr Taylor made the statement following a delayed reply from the Northern Ireland Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, to questions he tabled in the House of Commons in July.
Mr Taylor asked if any GM crop trials were under way in Northern Ireland and if any were planned. Dr Mowlam has delayed the reply until 19th October.
"I become concerned at this attempt to delay a reply about GM foods," Mr Taylor said.
The Department of Agriculture in Northern Ireland yesterday confirmed that no GM crop trials had been conducted in the North. Experiments were being conducted on potatoes but they had not been planted. Mr Taylor's call for a ban on GM crop trials comes after a fourth crop in the Republic was sabotaged last week. An estimated £20,000 worth of damage was caused to sugar beet crops in east Cork.
Crops were also destroyed in Arthurstown, Co Wexford, earlier this year and in June of last year. In September 1997, crops were sabotaged in Oakpark, Co Carlow.
Dr Patrick O'Reilly of Monsan to, the company responsible for planting the crops, has estimated the damage from the four attacks to be £120,000. Supermarkets North and South have responded to public fear of GM foods, including Marks & Spencers and Iceland Frozen Foods, which banned GM ingredients in products. Tesco has reduced the number of GM products and is providing information on labels detailing the remaining GM products.