§ Mr. TredinnickTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how he intends to respond to ethical concerns over the use of genetically modified organisms as food.
§ Mr. GummerI have asked the Reverend John Polkinghorne, president of Queen's College Cambridge, to chair a study into this and various related issues. The other members of the group will be Professor Derek Burke, vice chancellor of the University of East Anglia, Professor Brian Heap, director of research at the AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetic Research, Mrs. Harriet Kimbell, vice-chairman of the Consumers Association, Mr. Richard Callaghan, controller of ASDA's technical division and the Reverend Arthur Peacocke, formerly warden of the Society of Ordained Scientists.
The study's terms of reference will be:
to consider future trends in the production of transgenic organisms; to consider the moral and ethical concerns (other than those relating to food safety) that may arise from the use of food products derived from production programmes involving such organisms; and to make recommendations.Recently, we have seen significant developments towards the use of genetic modification in food production. This technology has the potential to benefit farmers, food producers and consumers by extending the range, quality and types of food available. However, the Government are also aware that these developments raise ethical and moral concerns.
Therefore, we thought it right to give early consideration to these issues. The new advisory group will consider likely future trends in the use of genetic modification in food production and the concerns that might arise from the consumption of food from such programmes, and recommend how those concerns might be addressed.
I believe that the issues with which the committee is concerned need to be widely debated and I know the study 4W team will be inviting views from all interested groups and individuals. I have asked the study team to report to me within a year.