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Gm safety checks inadequate says royal society
4 February 2002
Safety checks on GM foods are inadequate and must be improved, the Royal Society warned today. The current system relies too heavily on a test of 'substantial equivalence'. This means that a GM crop is assumed to be as safe as its non-GM counterpart and therefore that no new tests are needed. Friends of the Earth has called the findings “deeply disturbing” and says it highlights the risks that the GM industry has been taking with the public's health.
Adrian Bebb, GM campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:
“This deeply disturbing report raises serious concerns about the regulations covering the growing of GM crops and the licensing of GM food. The safety tests for introducing GM into the food chain are just not adequate, yet these GM products are still on sale in the UK.
“Consumer pressure to stop these foods being sold in this country has been fully justified. The Government must now call a moratorium on these foods.”
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jun 2008
