Hello everyone, I'm new here and I think I understood the general rules for using this forum, but if not, please forgive me and let me know for the next use. Almost everyday I feel overwhelmed by encountering such diversity and flexibility of English language and therefore perhaps multiple interpretation that confuses me and convinces me needing for a mentor like this forum can be...

Anyway, I wonder if any of you could help me understand some parts of a UK Yahoo news article over GM crop issue under the name of "Government faces GM legal threat".

1: Quote"FOE also said it was urging the government to consult with regional authorities before making any announcement since they have to the power to block any move to have the crops grown commercially."
Question: in the middle of this sentence, "they have to the power to block any move ... ", very unlikely in a publication but is this just a typo error on the part "have to the power" to say "they 'have the power' to block any move..."? or I just don't get the intention of what this article says (more likely the case and so it should be), and if the latter is the case I would appreciate anybody to rephrase for better understanding and possibly an explanation for this, pls.

2: Quote "But environmentalists said results for this type of GM maize were skewed, mainly because the herbicide used on the neighbouring conventional crop has since been banned."
Question: A word 'since' at the third from the end confuses me. Does this mean "the herbicide... has been banned, and since then the results for the GM maize were obtained, and therefore skewed"? I wish somebody could show me rephrasing this sentence and teach me how this 'since' can be used like this, pls.

Are these too long for the forum question?

Thank you very much for helps in advance.

Hello, Rommie,
I'm really glad to have an answer that immediately, very pleased with the answer properly given. Thank you very much. I'd appreciate for your help for some questions I might raise again in near future.