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Biotech / Medical : Monsanto Co. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dan Spillane who wrote (2104)	6/3/1999 12:36:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Respond to of 2539

Government responds to prince's GM food fears The government has made a conciliatory response to the onslaught from Prince Charles over genetically-modified foods. The environment minister, Michael Meacher, said the Prince had raised legitimate questions in his newspaper article on the issue on Tuesday. Mr Meacher added that the Government has no intention of forcing GM foods down people's throats. In the article the Prince attacked the lack of independent scientific research on GM crops, accusing supporters of GM foods of using "emotional blackmail" to argue their case and expresses concerns about the toughness of regulations governing the cultivation of GM crops. The Prince asked 10 questions to highlight his concerns about GM foods. He wrote: "It is very hard for people to know who is right. Few of us are able to interpret all the scientific information which is available - and even the experts don't always agree. But what I believe the public's reaction shows is that instinctively we are nervous about tampering with Nature when we can't be sure that we know enough about all the consequences." The Prince also said that the only people who seem set to benefit are those who own the technology and who farm on an industrial scale. This is a claim flatly rejected by GM food producers. Biotechnology giant Monsanto - which is at the forefront of the development of GM crops - said recently published scientific reports contradicted the Prince's arguments. Monsanto's corporate affairs director Tony Combes said: "Dozens of worldwide regulatory agencies have decided that biotechnology crops are safe for the environment and for people to eat. These decisions are backed up by over 20 years of scientific and environmental research and more than 20,000 field trials. The Royal Society and the Nuffield Foundation reports begged to differ with the Prince." Previous story: Prince Charles has criticised the government's policy on GM food. Writing in the Daily Mail the Prince has questioned claims that the so-called 'Frankenstein foods' are safe. itn.co.uk:80/Britain/brit19990602/060203.htm