Biotech food is safe:
is anyone going to tell the consumer?
Source: EuropaBio
September 11, 2008
Via CheckBiotech
Brussels, 11th September 2008 - EuropaBio
welcomes the report (1) issued by the Joint Research Centre today that
reconfirms the results of a 2001 Commission study concluding that no
demonstration of any health effect of GM food products has ever been reported
and the use of more precise technology and the greater regulatory scrutiny very
likely makes them even safer than conventional plants and foods.
"That food made
from biotech crops is safe for human and animal consumption is not exactly
news," says Willy De Greef, Secretary General of
EuropaBio. The 2001 study by the European Commission
covering 15 years experience with agricultural biotech products affirmed
exactly that, and so did the more recent reports by the WHO, the French and
British Academies of Medicine and other renowned institutes, "We hope that
the European policymakers who have insisted on verifying this fact again will
now act in accordance with the findings in the form of more timely and actual
approvals of biotech products".
The head of EuropaBio calls for
widespread communication from the EU to the general public about the JRC's findings, something that that was sorely lacking when
the 2001 Commission study was published.
"Now that we have once again (re-)ascertained the
safety of biotech foods, let's give consumers the opportunity to choose among a
variety of safe foods produced with the help of modern biotechnology… let's get
these products approved!" he concluded.
Notes to Editors:
(1) JRC Study: Scientific and technical contribution to the
development of an overall health strategy in the area of GMOs;
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/downloads/jrc_20080910_gmo_study_en.pdf
For further information about EuropaBio
please contact:
Nathalie Moll
Tel: +32 2 739 1185
Email: n.moll@europabio.org
Rebecca Weaver
Tel: +32 2 735 0313
Direct: +32 2 739 1184
Email: r.weaver@europabio.org
About EuropaBio
EuropaBio is the European
Association for Bioindustries, solely and uniquely
bringing together bioscience companies from all fields of research and
development, testing, manufacturing and distribution of biotechnology products.
It has 79 corporate members operating worldwide, 5 associate members, 6 BioRegions and 25 national biotechnology associations
representing some 1800 small and medium sized enterprises involved in research.
Its mission is to promote an innovative and dynamic biotechnology-based industry
in
Source: EuropaBio
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