contamination

A paper to be published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature on 7th October demolishes the key assumption underlying the international safety regulation of GM food. The concept of "substantial equivalence" [1] has formed the basis of many food safety systems around the world (including the UK) but three scientists [2] writing in Nature have condemned this assumption as a 'pseudo-scientific concept' serving the interests of big business. The critique could destabilise America's aggressive stance on GM food and crops at World Trade Organisation negotiations.

Vienna, 20 September 1999 - The UN sponsored Biosafety Protocol talks to set international rules on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) closed in Vienna late Sunday night with the agreement to finalise the Protocol in January 2000 but leaving the question of how to deal with food and animal feed commodities open.

"The political commitment by all countries to sign up to the Biosafety Protocolol by all countries is promising," said Louise Gale, the head of the Greenpeace delegation in Vienna.

Following the Government report released today by MAFF, Greenpeace called for action to reduce chemicals in food by providing further funding for research into sustainable organic farming methods.

"This level of chemicals in our food is the inevitable result of fifty years of industrial agriculture in the UK. The solution is not just more testing but changing agricultural policy. The public want to know they are eating healthy produce. This means going organic," said Greenpeace director, Dr Doug Parr.