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DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
INTERIM RESPONSE TO A DEBATE ON GM

DEFRA
Department for
Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs

Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR

From the Secretary of State

Professor Malcolm Grant
Chairman
Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission
Albany House
94-98 Petty France
London
SW1H 9ST

31 May 2002

Dear Professor Grant

AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT BIOTECHNOLOGY COMMISSION:
A DEBATE ON GM

I am writing on behalf of the UK Government and with approval of the Devolved Administrations to thank your Commission for the advice, on 26 April, on the conduct of a public debate on GM issues in advance of any future decisions on possible commercialisation of GM cropsin the United Kingdom. I enclose a copy of the news release which my Department will publish today. The news release confirms that there will be a full and informed public debate.

The Commission's proposals on how to structure the debate contain a great deal for Government to consider. We will look carefully at the proposals.

The Government wants to start the debate as soon as possible with two key strands being dealt with first, the economics and science of GM including GM crops. The science dimension will involve an evaluation of the current state of knowledge on GM issues and will address public concerns about whether there are risks to human health or the environment from GM crops and food. These additional elements will help inform the debate.

A copy of this letter goes to the Prime Minister, Robin Cook, Patricia Hewitt, Sir Richard Wilson, Professor David King, Sir John Krebs, Ross Finnie (Scottish Executive), Carwyn Jones (Welsh Assembly Government) and Dermot Nesbitt (Department of the Environment Northern Ireland).

Yours sincerely

pp. MARGARET BECKETT
(approved by the Secretary of State and signed in her absence)

31 May 2002

BECKETT ANNOUNCES A PUBLIC DEBATE ON GM
The Government today welcomed the advice from the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission (AEBC) that it should encourage public discussion and examination of GM issues - including GM crops.

Environment Secretary, Margaret Beckett, said the Government considers that there should be a full and informed debate. The Government will later need to take decisions on the possible commercialization of GM crops.

Margaret Beckett said: "We recognise there are a number of serious issues to be considered. The Government wants to start the debate as soon as possible and I have asked for two key pieces of work to begin in parallel which will cover the economics and science of GMs, including GM crops. Other areas of work will follow. I believe it is crucial to have an informed and open debate about all these issues.

"An economic assessment, which may involve the Performance and Innovation Unit, will cover the costs and benefits of GM crops. The assessment will consider conventional and organic farming interests that might be affected by the commercialisation of GM crops, other commercial interests and the international dimension. For example, GM crops may have potential in developing countries where there is greater need for increased food production.

"The science will be assessed by Professor David King, the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser and Professor Howard Dalton, my Department's Chief Scientific Adviser, working with the Food Standards Agency, and drawing on all available expert and scientific advice and evidence. Their work will include an evaluation of the current state of knowledge on GM issues and will address public concerns about whether there are risks to human health or the environment from GM crops and food."

The Government is now considering the details of AEBC's advice and will respond in detail to the Commission at a later date.

Notes for editors

1. In January the Government asked AEBC for advice on how best to take forward a public debate on GM issues in advance of any future decisions on possible commercialisation of the crops in the Farm Scale Evaluation (FSE) programme.

2. AEBC submitted their advice on 26 April.

Press Notices available via DEFRA website

http://www.defra.gov.uk

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