The U.K.'s Agricultural Biotechnology Council (abc) today called for the Consumers’ Association to reconsider its policy with respect to GM crops, as its stance favours denying choice to farmers and consumers who wish to experience the benefits of GM technology which have been appreciated by millions around the world for almost a decade.

Commenting on the Which? magazine September 2004 survey results on GM food and crops, abc Deputy Chairman Tony Combes said:

“The Which? findings show that ‘over 25% of those polled think GM crops should be grown in the UK’ – yet this choice is currently being denied to UK farmers and consumers alike.

Which? also stated that 58% of those polled ‘try to avoid GM ingredients altogether’, to which Tony Combes responded:

“Consumer choice is dependent on the ability to choose clearly labelled GM or non-GM food and abc welcomed the introduction of EU labelling regulations earlier this year that the Consumers’ Association, among others, had been pressing for”.

“This means that 41 per cent do not try to avoid GM ingredients - is Which? in favour of the small majority of 58% dictating what up to 41% may or may not eat, or does the Consumers’ Association subscribe to real consumer choice?

“The UK and the EU need to ensure that consumers are not excluded from the benefits this science-led and safety-focused technology is already delivering elsewhere.

“Since the last Which? survey was conducted in 2002, a further 1.5 million farmers worldwide are growing GM crops and benefiting from their use. This makes a total of 7 million farmers who choose to grow GM crops on 67 million hectares, in 18 countries.

Responding to the Consumers’ Association claims that health concerns remain, Tony Combes added:

“There is no evidence to support Malcolm Coles’ doubts about health risks associated with GM crops and food. There has already been 10 years of safe use worldwide, which the British Medical Association (BMA) considered when they announced earlier this year that ‘there is very little potential for GM foods to cause harmful health effects’ and ‘many of the concerns expressed apply with equal vigour to conventionally derived foods’.

“We have always supported this view and regard the unique level of testing and regulation associated with GM crops as second to none”.

BACKGROUND

The Agricultural Biotechnology Council (abc) was set up in 2002 to provide a forum for the debate and education surrounding GM technology in the United Kingdom.

The members of abc are BASF, Bayer CropScience, Dow AgroSciences, DuPont, Monsanto and Syngenta. These companies are working together to promote a fair debate surrounding the production of GM crops and also to provide education about GM in the UK.

To assist people in understanding the day-to-day impact of these new regulations on labelling, abc has produced material for members of the food industry and the public. These booklets entitled “The Practical Guide” are available at www.abcinformation.org