Genetic engineering report `ambiguous'

The environmental group, Genetic Concern, has accused the Government of favouring industrial interests over those of consumers, following the publication of a report on genetic engineering.

While the document issued yesterday by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, calls for clear labelling of genetically modified (GM) foods, Genetic Concern spokesman, Mr Quentin Gargan, said the report was adopting an ambiguous stance, which it also believed was not in the interests of Irish agriculture.

If the Government genuinely wished to have adequate labelling, he added, it had to exert pressure at EU level for segregation. "Unless genetically engineered crops are separated from conventional varieties, any labelling scheme will be meaningless."

It was commonly accepted that biotechnology would mainly help intensive large-scale farmers, but Ireland was better placed "to supply the growing market for commodities guaranteed not to be genetically engineered", Mr Gargan said. Genetic Concern, none the less, welcomed the opportunity for public participation in national policy.

Green MEP, Ms Nuala Ahern, said the report raised serious questions about current standards of labelling, segregation and risk assessment of genetically engineered food, which required immediate Government action to protect the consumer and the environment. She accused the Minister of "reciting the propaganda of the genetic industry" and accepting its grossly-inflated jobs predictions.

The Food and Drink Federation, part of the business body IBEC, welcomed the document as a "positive contribution to the biotechnology debate", which would go a long way towards counteracting inaccurate information. Its spokeswoman, Ms Kathryn Raleigh, said that for informed choice when purchasing food products "the consumer must be made aware of all of the facts, including the strict manner in which these foods are labelled".

The availability of a clear choice for consumers would form the basis of EU labelling regulations for all GM foods, she added. "If the consumer is to make an informed choice, it is imperative that accurate information be made available."

IBEC's Irish Bioindustry Association also welcomed the report. Its director, Mr Matt Moran, said it would engage in a consultation process with the Government over the next month. The safety of products using biotechnology was of utmost importance to the industry, while the legislative process currently in train at EU level was designed to ensure maximum protection to the consumer.

Public concern would be allayed, he said, by "ensuring sound legislation based on scientific fact is in place and the public are informed as to the benefits and potential risks presented by such technologies". Mr Dempsey reiterated that current labelling arrangements are "totally inadequate" but the ultimate decision on any revision would be decided by the EU as a whole. He favoured mandatory labelling indicating that a product contained genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

The Minister accepted that not enough was known at present about foods containing GMOs, adding that he wished to hear the views of both sides of the argument by the end of September. This will be in advance of an EU decision on labelling, and an overhaul of GMO regulations due by December.