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Why a GM Freeze? |
| Genetic modification has the potential to cause massive social, economic and environmental effects worldwide. Some imported foods with genetically modified (GM) ingredients* were introduced into the UK in the late 1990s without any public consultation and without labelling. Widespread public concern followed and as a result of consumer pressure UK supermarkets and food processors largely removed GM ingredients from their own-brand products. Despite the fact that most consumers do not want to eat GM food and the many outstanding questions about it's long-term effects, the British Government has given the go-ahead for the commercial growing of GM maize in the UK and consistently votes in favour of the approval of new GM products at the European Union. Patents are being granted which give monopoly control of the world's genetic resources for food and farming to private corporations. Only the refusal of shoppers to buy GM food in the late 1990s prevented an avalanche of products reaching supermarket shelves. However, the threat of poorly tested GM food and feed imports remains and constant vigilance is needed to ensure there is no creeping GM contamination in our food chain. Biotechnology companies claim that genetic modification will "improve" our food, increase crop yields and even reduce the use of chemicals on farmland. But the need for the technology has not been proven and so far there is no convincing evidence of any "benefits" other than the profits being made by the biotech industry itself. Genetic modification has dominated research and development to the extent that viable aleternatives such as organic or other forms of sustainable farming have been neglected. Genetic modification in food and farming raises many fundamental environmental, social, health and ethical concerns. There is increasing evidence of contamination of conventional crops and wild plants, and potential damage to wildlife. The effects on human health of eating these foods remain uncertain and some scientists are calling for much more rigorous safety testing. It is clear that further research into all these issues is vital. Furthermore the public has not been properly involved in decision making processes, despite strong public support for the precautionary approach to GM in the UK and the EU. Much more time is needed to assess the need for and implications of using genetic modification in food and farming, in particular the increasing control of corporations who rely on patents to secure their future markets. GM Freeze believes that the following must be dealt with before any further commercial use of GM:
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