Alternative GM debate launched

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The Mirror, 05:15, Jul 18 2003
 
LONDON (Reuters) - The debate on gene-spliced crops is stepping up a gear
with two of Britain's largest retailers joining forces with the Consumers'
Association and Greenpeace to launch their own public forum to thrash out
the issues.

The government's separate eight-week national dialogue on genetically
modified organisms draws to a close on Friday amid widespread criticism of
the way it was organised.

Anglo-Dutch food group Unilever, food retailer Co-operative Group,
Greenpeace, and the Consumers' Association said they have set up an
"independent GM citizens' jury" in a bid to aid government thinking as it
decides whether to allow GM crops to be grown commercially in Britain.

The government's decision is expected later this year.

Greenpeace's chief policy advisor Charlie Kronick said the public's views
would be more fairly represented by the eight-week-long initiative than at
the government's hearings.

"The public have been subjected to a barrage of propaganda courtesy of GM
advocates as well as sceptics," Kronick said.

"This is a chance for the government to hear the real concerns of real
people," he added.

The alliance said the jury would have two groups of 30 members each, all of
whom were handpicked from a wide mix of social backgrounds, ages, ethnic
groups and genders.

JURY REPORT IN SEPTEMBER

Meeting twice a week, jurors will expect to hear "witnesses" - to include
members from the farming, science and retail communities - present their
views on the technology.

Jurors will also have an opportunity to call in further witnesses at the end
of the period if needed, Consumers Association spokeswoman Samantha Flack
said.

Flack said a special monitoring panel had been appointed, which included
members of the biotechnology industry, to ensure that the results from the
GM jury are reliable.

Once finished, the jurors will produce a report at the end of September
outlining its conclusions and overall verdict, which will be then presented
to food, farming and environment ministers to review.

The government-backed debate that got underway on 3 July finally came to end
on Friday despite calls by lobby groups from all sides for an extension,
possibly until October.

The dialogue included the publication of a key report on the costs and
benefits associated with GM food and a series of public debates across the
country.

A key report on the science associated with GM crops and food is expected to
be published on Monday.