The Government's report on how Ireland may deal with the issues arising from the complex area of genetic engineering was urgently needed. It comes more than a year after Fianna Fail adopted a bold pre-election stance against genetically-modified (GM) foods. The party chose not to support what it called "the largest nutritional experiment in human history with the consumer as guinea pig". But the consultation document from the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, which relates to the "deliberate release of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) into the environment", signals a massive policy shift. It obviously allows for the development of such crops, which make for a sizeable element in the current biotechnology revolution. Since the early 1980s, successive governments have promoted this technology, which has culminated in some 170 national and multinational companies working in the sector here. This was not some sinister process suddenly foisted on a gullible public.
Mr Dempsey has brought a tighter focus on consumer concerns, even if he cannot deliver a moratorium on GM crops, as promised (and demanded by a significant environmental lobby in Ireland). The need for clarification on "totally inadequate" labelling has been pressing for some time. Equally, there is a case for strengthening EU legislation. As Mr Dempsey's report notes, "from a consumer point of view the information provided (on labels) is inadequate to facilitate clear choices" on the purchase of GM foods.
The EU's failure to reflect consumer concern, and the flawed attempts to provide widely-accepted labelling, does not inspire confidence in Mr Dempsey's efforts to provide "full and clear labelling". His report, nonetheless, does not avoid the kernel of the issue; whether or not it is necessary, feasible and viable to segregate GM products from conventional foods. Among EU ministers, Mr Dempsey could expect some support were he to press for full labelling. Despite the concerns of the Commission, both Austria and Luxembourg have banned GM food, while in France public support is less than unequivocal. In Britain, the sabotage of GM crop test sites has become so common that the authorities are considering keeping their location a secret. Public concern within Europe should dictate a cautious approach towards the issue notwithstanding the need to allow the rich potential of the European biotechnology industry to flourish. Biotech companies like Monsanto are beginning to acknowledge this by putting information and reassurance to the fore.
More research on aspects of GM foods and independent consumer advice is also needed. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland is conducting its own review. The hope must be that this review and Mr Dempsey's commitment to better safety, transparency and choice will help to eliminate much of the uncertainty that has marked the debate on GM foods.