GM DEBATE WILL HAVE TO BE RUN AGAIN

Commenting, today at the close of the Government's sponsored public debate on Genetically Modified Organisms - GM Nation - Liberal Democrat Shadow Rural Affairs Minister, Andrew George MP, predicted that the Government would have to run the whole debate all over again.

Mr George said:

"The public debate has been almost surreal. The Government has been inviting the public to fumble around in the dark on this issue. The battle has been between the biotech giants and a well organised anti-GM lobby.

"What science is available is either incomplete or inconclusive. The public has not been given the information to make a real choice.

"Decisions on GM should be based on sound science, not 'quick', 'make do' or 'hasty' science. If ever a political decision required cautiousness, then this is it.

"Without adequate science in place we run the serious risk of taking an irreversible decision at haste which we could regret at our leisure for many years to come.

"When issues of liability, the farm scale trials and human health impact studies have been completed and reported, then it would be appropriate to run another public debate."