Food Standards Agency attacked over breakaway GM debate
PRESS RELEASE 03/05/2003 Categories: GMO | News: campaigns | News: farmers & growers | Press releases 2003 | Downloads and other links
4 MARCH 2003 (EMBARGOED UNTIL 12.00AM 5 MARCH) The Soil Association, Women's Institutes, Food Commission, UNISON, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, and three other organisations have launched a forceful attack on the FSA and its Chair, Sir John Krebs, accusing them of pro-GM bias and of organising a 'breakaway' GM Debate in competition with the independent one initiated by the government. In their published minutes, the FSA Board have already expressed concern that the FSA should not to be "drawn into any campaign 'promoting' GM" and have found it necessary to stress that the FSA should not “promote industry interests". In a letter sent to each member of the FSA Board, the organisations have accused the FSA of taking a line on GM foods that is virtually indistinguishable from that of the pro-GM lobby. It is also being accused of failing in its duty to properly represent public health and consumer interests. Peter Melchett, Soil Association’s Policy Director said “Sadly, in this area the FSA does not seem to be behaving as the impartial representative of consumers views, as the FSA Board clearly wants it to. We hope this letter will encourage the Board to ensure that their wishes are respected, and to ensure that the FSA works co-operatively with the government's independent Public Debate Steering Committee”. Further concern has resulted from the FSA's determination to launch its own breakaway 'Public Debate', in direct competition with the official programme of events planned by the independent Public Debate Steering Committee. Whilst the official Public Debate originally received only £250,000 to organise its whole programme (a sum the government recently doubled after objections), the FSA is spending over £100,000 of taxpayers' money on its own breakaway debate. The signatories believe this would undermine the credibility of the FSA and the government's GM Public Debate. The letter to the FSA Board expresses concern about the FSA being involved in the government's review of GM science as a so-called 'independent scientific advisor'. The letter also accuses the FSA of failing to acknowledge the concerns of the British Medical Association and other bodies on the issue of GM foods and public health, of publishing highly biased "GM education" material, and of basing its views on GM food safety on disputed science. 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