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Published on August 17, 2007

The group said conducting trials on fields risked spreading contaminants among natural crops, which would cause foreign countries to ban Thai exports. The Thaksin government issued a Cabinet resolution on April 3, 2001 banning field trials.

The Agriculture Ministry has tried many times to lift the ban but has always faced opposition from those concerned about bio-safety. The ministry says Thailand is underdeveloped regarding GM technology and needs further trials.

The ministry claims greater income could be generated if GM crops were allowed to be commercially grown.

The Rice Farmers' Advocate Group yesterday called on the government to enforce the Bio-safety Law which was drawn up by the Natural Resources and Environmental Ministry in 2004 to control the trials, force responsibility upon operators and provide compensation for affected agriculturists.

"Witoon Lianchamroon, director of BioThai, a non-profit agency that works to protect farmers' rights and bio-diversity, said the group would not oppose field trials if the ministry and related organisations proved that they could control the spread of GM organisms in laboratory and greenhouse trials, as well as disseminate the proof to the Thai people.  

"In the past, we found the ministry failed to control the distribution of GM organisms in the field trials for papayas in Khon Kaen and cotton in Loei. Besides, some affected farmers haven't been compensated."

Thai Organic Trade Association deputy chairman Soonthorn Sritawee said Thailand's crops were generally in the "medium- to low-level" GM category which still allowed them to be exported. However, if there were higher levels of GM organisms, this could cause some countries to reject Thai agricultural products.

Wannapa Phetdee

The Nation