EU eases GM animal feed rules

Although the move has to be officially ratified, there has been a general welcome by the Scottish livestock industry to moves in Brussels that will in future allow a small percentage of GM crop in feed shipments.

The move follows years of lobbying by the livestock sector and by feed manufacturers trying to move from the current zero tolerance for GM contamination in soya and maize shipments.

This has led to situations where whole shipments of soya were rejected after GM varieties were found in the cargo.

It has also led to a position where soya with no GM contamination now costs up to 50 per tonne more than cargoes with just a very small level of contamination.

George Lyon MEP welcomed the shift in policy in Europe saying it was "great news for hard-pressed livestock farmers faced with hefty feed costs".

But he pointed out that it will be 12 weeks before the move becomes official so the real benefit would not be felt until next winter.

Bob Carruth, communications director with NFU Scotland which has been heavily involved in the lobbying, said it appeared that some "sensible thinking has emerged on the presence on non-EU approved GM in feed shipments" .

Billy Davidson, of Davidson Feeds, Shotts, described the allowance as "a positive move and one which should make it easier for the trade."