A proposal to allow individual countries in the European Union to opt out of growing genetically modified (GM) crops is to be tabled this week at a top-level meeting at the European Commission.
The GM debate at times seems much like the Hokey Cokey (or Pokey, if you’re US-based). There’s been a lot of putting in, some putting out, and quite a lot of shaking things all about, but as of yet, there hasn’t really been a turnaround and definitely...
Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy has signalled that the retailer is willing to back genetically modified (GM) foods, saying consumer attitudes have changed and it has a vital part to play.
Food industry voices are joining those of politicians in the GM debate, hailing the controversial technology as the answer to the food supply crisis. But the hearts and minds of consumers must still be won.
Genetically modified (GM) crops could help address spiralling prices, said UK ministers, sparking yet another European debate on their role in the global food arena.
France's upper house of parliament has passed a bill that sets out
conditions for growing genetically modified crops, despite heavy
opposition from environmental campaigners.
The food industry is being asked to work with the European
Commission to implement testing measures for rice imports from
China to prevent unauthorised GM material entering the European
food system.
The unstable political situation surrounding the cultivation of
genetically modified (GM) crops is restricting university research
and pushing small companies out of the arena, thereby restricting
competition, said a GM expert.
New legislation passed in Germany on Friday has paved the way for
increased biotech innovation and easier cultivation of genetically
modified (GM) crops.
The German ruling coalition has agreed to allow foods containing
certain GM additives or using GM processing aids to still be
labelled as non-GM if there is no alternative, in a bid to
encourage use of non-GM labels.
Debate has been stirred in the UK over a future that could see GM
foods on supermarket shelves, as the government's outgoing chief
scientific advisor said he believes GM food to be safer than
convention food.
The European Commission will now make the final decision on whether
to allow three new GM maize's onto the EU market after agricultural
ministers failed to reach a majority vote in Brussels yesterday.
Low fat ice-creams made using a GM yeast to form of small ice
crystals moved closer to set to be approved for the European
market, as the FSA published its draft opinion on Unilever
technology under novel foods regulation.
Genetically modified rice containing human genes has received
preliminary approval in the US, sparking new concerns and fears on
both sides of the Atlantic.
EFSA has met with the four member states currently involved in GM
environmental risk assessments in order to discuss the development
of an EU-wide approach.
New UK government proposals to allow up to 0.9 per cent GM in
organic food without it being labelled threatens a highly lucrative
industry, claim campaigners.
Food can polarise opinion more than most issues, but can we please
have some balance and debate, rather than mudslinging and crop
burning to get to the truth?
The UK's Food Standards Agency has taken action to ensure that
testing and monitoring is carried out on consignments of American
long grain rice in the UK.
A recent study into public attitudes towards genetically modified
foods has confirmed that attitudes change significantly depending
on the type of food being considered.
The current move towards harmonising global regulations on
genetically modified food is a good thing, though agreement on
labelling remains as far away as ever, an IFT conference heard this
week.
Poland's controversial ban on the use of 16 varieties of
genetically modified maize has been backed by the European
Commission, despite warnings the law broke EU rules.
The European Commission has approved genetically modified (GM) food
despite having serious doubts about the health and environmental
implications, according to a pressure group.
On the other side of the debate, environmental activists remain
committed to ensuring that Europe's food supply remains GM free
even if that means breaking the law.
The results of a study showing that soy products in the UK are
correctly labelled with respect to GM contamination have been
welcomed by the biotech industry.
The development of EU-wide legislation on the co-existence of
genetically modified crops with conventional and organic farming is
not currently justified, according to a new report from the
European Commission.
EFSA's acting director claims that this weeks meeting with
environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) was a success,
despite a huge gulf in opinion.
The WTO ruling backing the US, Canada and Argentina in their
efforts to open Europe up to genetically modified (GM) food has
been dismissed as 'irrelevant'.
Denmark is to pay compensation in cases where conventional or
organic production has suffered economic losses following
genetically modified (GM) material contamination.
Research to genetically modify peas to resist insect attack and
reduce the use of chemical sprays has been discontinued after the
failure of a stringent risk assessment.
EuropaBio has slammed the EU Agricultural Council's decision to
uphold a Greek ban on genetically modified (GM) corn, claiming that
the judgement flies in the face of EFSA advice on biotech crops.
A follow-up study to the UK's farm scale evaluations (FSE) of
genetically modified crops has found that the impacts on wildlife
observed in the initial results can persist for two years, reports
CORDIS.
Leatherhead Food International is offering a one-stop shop in
analytical service including genetically modified organisms, thanks
to a strategic collaboration with Genetic ID.
In a move that is bound to add more heat to the dispute among EU
states over genetically modified organisms, the Europe's food
safety regulator has approved a number of products for use within
the bloc.
Adding fuel to the already heated debate on GM foods and
ingredients, the UN's World Health Organisation claims genetically
modified foods can contribute to enhancing human health and
development.
A call by the World Health Organisation for further safety
assessments on using genetically modified (GM) foods should give
governments pause for thought before giving their approval for
their wider use of the technology.
Stakeholders in the food chain, along with technocrats and
politicians in Brussels, must wait until October this year to get
the final word from the WTO on the GM complaint filed by the US,
Canada and Argentina, reports Lindsey Partos.
Two thirds of Russians are against genetically modified foods and
the majority of experts support a ban on GM crops as the government
prepares new production laws, reports Chris Mercer.
