UK government should delay decision on GM crops - study 
Mon September 8, 2003 09:31 AM ET 

LONDON, Sept 8 (Reuters)  -  Britain should delay its decision on
whether  to  allow  genetically  modified (GM)  crops to be grown
commercially and continue with field trials until more  is  known
about  the  technology,  a  major  research  report  concluded on
Monday.  

The  study,   which  was  compiled  by  academics  at   Newcastle
University  after  six  weeks  of  debate  and  analysis  by  two
independent 'jury'  panels,  said  too  many  issues  were  still
unresolved.  

"We  believe  that  the implications of GM technology are not yet
fully understood and have not been  adequately  shared  with  the
public," jury member Helen Colclough said in a statement.  

"The  jury  felt  that  because of this,  we could not justify an
unqualified green light to GM crops being grown in the  UK,"  she
added.  

The UK government has said it will probably decide whether or not
to  give the gene-altered plant varieties the commercial go-ahead
later this year.  

Britain's Consumers'  Association,  one of the bodies behind  the
report,  said  the government should weigh up the latest evidence
before it makes a decision whether to give  GM  crops  the  green
light.  

"The  Peoples'   Report  on  GM  Crops...highlights  the  jurors'
concerns on issues including the impact of GM  crops  on  farming
and the environment, food safety and potential health effects, as
well as the government's handling of the debate," it said.  

The   research,   which  was  presented  to  food,   farming  and
environment ministers for review on Monday, was also part-fund by
Anglo-Dutch  food  group  Unilever   ULVR.L   ,   food   retailer
Co-operative Group, and environmental pressure group Greenpeace.  

Consumers'  Association  spokeswoman  Samantha  Flack said the 30
jurors that took part were handpicked from a wide mix  of  social
backgrounds, ages, ethnic groups and genders and met twice a week
for  six  weeks  to  hear "witnesses"  present their views on the
technology.  

These included members  from  the  farming,  science  and  retail
communities, Flack said.  

A   special   monitoring  panel  that  included  members  of  the
biotechnology industry also oversaw the  results  to  ensure  the
results were a true reflection of the jury's overall views, Flack
added.  

The  results of the government's three-year-long field trials are
due to be published next month.