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EU Allows In New Flood Of GM Food

(Summary)

According to The Observer, European laws to be introduced this week will open Britain to a fresh wave of genetically modified crops and foods.

This new direction will end a “three year de facto moratorium moratorium on granting licences for the commercial development of GM foods. The standstill was imposed by major European nations following concerns about the impact of the new crops on health and the environment.” David Bowe, the British MEP who liaises between the European Parliament and the Commission on GM issues, said the “moratorium is dead” and welcomed the new legislation last week. Bowe said that “this is a significant step in terms of habituating people to GM products. There will soon be more GM foods in our shops but they will be safe. There is nothing here that will kill the world.”

The story continues to say that “fourteen applications from biotech companies for licences to plant GM products for commercial use have been on hold during the moratorium. Dozens of requests to develop GM organisms are now expected from major multinational firms in the wake of the new legislation. The testing of GM crops for environmental impact has been allowed - there will be 96 such trials in the UK this year - but no planting for commercial use has been permitted. This will be changed by the new laws. “

“Tony Blair appeared to be an early supporter of GM foods, hoping that Britain could be a world leader in biotechnology if 'the tyranny of pressure groups' was resisted. However, recently he was more cautious: 'There's no doubt that there is potential for harm both in terms of human safety and in the diversity of our environment from GM foods or crops.”

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