GM crops go ahead

Ministers are set to give the go-ahead next month for commercial planting of some GM crops - but will impose strict conditions to try to allay public fears.

Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett is set to take the controversial decision after scientists approved geneticallymodified maize earlier this week. She is likely to say full-scale production of GM maize can go ahead under "rigid procedures".

However, commercial GM sugar beet and oilseed rape are likely to be banned after trials showed they could be more damaging to the environment than conventional crops.

GM maize production would be unlikely to start before 2005 and there will be restrictions on the herbicides that can be used and the species of plants that can be grown nearby.

Critics of GM foods said they would continue to protest. Friends of the Earth said low demand from consumers would mean few farmers would be prepared to invest in the new technology.

Former environment minister Michael Meacher said the Government did not have a mandate to proceed with commercial GM crop-planting.