This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Executive rejects GM report
11/03/2003
The Executive today published a substantive response to
the Health and Community Care Committee's (HCCC) report on
GM crop trials, rejecting all the recommendations.
The response details the 'shortcomings' of the HCCC
report; the failure by the Committee to take proper account
of the weight of scientific evidence presented during the
inquiry, and the rigour of the existing regulations.
Ross Finnie, Minister for the Environment and Rural
Development, said:
"The views of the Committee members are clearly at odds
with the evidence of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the
Executive's independent scientific advisers. It would be
irresponsible of Ministers and the Executive to ignore the
knowledge and expertise of expert advisory bodies."
"I am concerned and extremely disappointed that the
Committee has ignored the volume of evidence recording
confidence in the Advisory Committee on Releases to the
Environment's approach to risk assessment and the quality
of scientific advice it offers Ministers."
"In particular I support ACRE's case by case approach to
considering the risks and benefits associated with the
release of GMOs. This approach enables factors such as the
variety of GMOs involved and the proposed location and
scale of release to be taken into account."
Deputy Health Minister Mary Mulligan said:
"This is a very detailed response from the Executive and
it makes clear that the Committee's report, which is
critical of aspects of the management of the Farm Scale
Evaluations of GM Crops, is not supported by the available
evidence.
"It represents what, in fact, the Committee acknowledged
- its inability "to deliberate definitively on the complex
scientific questions that GM crop trials raise or
adjudicate on competing interpretations of scientific
evidence.
"The available scientific evidence supports the view
that the Farm Scale Evaluation programme is well-founded,
well-regulated and designed to increase our knowledge about
GM crops, while taking proportionate measures to protect
public health."
A spokesman for the Advisory Committee on release to the
Environment (ACRE), which advises Scottish Ministers on the
regulation of the 'deliberate release' of GMOs into the
environment, said:
"ACRE's view remains that the risk assessment of the
release of GMOs is careful, thorough and scientifically
sound, and is in accordance with the criteria set out in
the relevant Directive 2001/18."
The Health and Community Care Committee Report on GM
Crop Trials was published on January 14, 2003.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has recently
acknowledged that there has been a 'lot more science' since
their position statement on GM was published in 1999. On
January 31 the BMA indicated plans to convene a round table
meeting later this year of scientists with knowledge of the
developments in research and other evidence.
Extracts from the Executive Summary response and
specific concerns about the H&CC Committee report are
attached.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Executive considers that the Health and Community
Care Committee (HCCC) Report on the Inquiry into
genetically modified (GM) crops is fundamentally flawed.
The Executive is required to reach a view on new
applications for the release of GMOs on a case-by-case
basis using the criteria laid down in Directive 2001/18/EC.
Such assessments involve particular consideration of the
possible risks to human health and the environment.
The Executive's view is informed by advice from a number
of independent expert groups and by specific scientific
concerns arising from public consultation. The Executive
authorised the farm-scale evaluation trials only after a
wide and rigorous range of safety assessments had been
completed to the satisfaction of our expert advisers. No
substantive evidence has emerged which might call into
question the safety of any of the crop trials and the
Executive remains of the view that the farm-scale
evaluations are well founded and well regulated.
The Committee acknowledges "that it is not qualified to
deliberate definitively on the complex scientific questions
that GM crops raise or to adjudicate on competing
interpretations of scientific evidence" yet goes on to do
precisely that by challenging internationally established
scientific practice and methodology.
The Committee argues the basis for risk assessment is
unsound and not in accordance with the precautionary
principle. The Committee also questions the competence of
ACRE to assess the health implications of an applications
for deliberate release.
In preparing its report the Committee seems not to have
had regard to oral and written evidence, as well as
substantial volumes of peer reviewed research, which
confirm, as far as is scientifically possible, that current
GM crops pose no greater risk to human health or the
environment than comparable non-GM varieties.
In reaching its findings, the Committee has placed heavy
reliance on evidence presented by those with little
relevant or current knowledge of GM technology.
The views of the Committee members are clearly at odds
with those of the Executive's scientific advisers, but it
would be irresponsible of the Executive to ignore the
advice of the expert bodies whose role is precisely to
provide such advice.
In particular, the Executive supports ACRE's case by
case approach in considering the risks associated with the
release of GMOs. This approach enables factors such as the
variety of GMO involved and the proposed location and scale
of the release to be taken into account. The Health
Committee has ignored the volume of evidence recording
confidence in ACRE's approach to risk assessment and the
quality of scientific advice it offers Ministers.
While the Executive acknowledges that the HCCC conducted
this inquiry in response to public concern, the Report
serves to increase the level of anxiety which has existed.
The Committee has not given sufficient attention to the
evidence it has heard on the science of GM crops, genetics
more generally and the precautions which Government and its
advisers have recommended and put in place. A Report which
should have explained a matter of concern to the public has
served to obscure the facts and heighten concern
SPECIFIC CONCERNS
Below is the Executive's response to specific concerns
raised by the Committee:
- The Executive is satisfied that the precautionary
principle is being applied in a robust, consistent and
appropriate manner.
- The Directive and implementing regulations
prescribe a structured approach to the analysis of risk
in line with the precautionary principle.
- The Scottish Executive is entirely satisfied with
ACRE's approach to risk assessment and the quality of
advice it offers the Scottish Ministers.
- There is no evidence to indicate that GM crops
grown in Scotland pose any greater risk to human health
or the environment than non-GM varieties. If the
Scottish Ministers were not satisfied that this was the
case, consent for a release would not be given.
- The Executive is not convinced that
pharmaceutical-style testing is better suited to GM
crop trials and will continue to apply the underlying
principles and basic procedures for the approval of
GMOs in Directive 2001/18/EC.
- The Executive considers that it would be
impracticable to undertake comprehensive food and feed
testing on all GM lines that were intended for
small-scale research and development releases - most of
which will never be marketed due to commercial or
agronomic reasons.
- In reaching decisions on applications for
deliberate release the Executive, as well as its expert
advisory committees and the HSE and FSA, has access to
all information relating to that application, including
that deemed for the purposes of the Environmental
Protection Act to be "commercial in confidence".
- Any consent which is granted involves limiting
terms and conditions. Some of the SCIMAC guidelines -
which are not themselves legally binding - are mirrored
in the limitations and conditions of individual
consents and as such have legal force.
- The Executive notes the concerns of the Health and
Community Care Committee but remains satisfied that the
environmental risk assessment includes consideration of
the safety implications of any exposure to pollen from
GM crops through ingestion or inhalation from the air,
or from the pollen landing on other crops.
- The Executive agrees that any major scientific
intervention into the environment must be scrupulously
monitored and is satisfied that appropriate and
proportionate health and environmental monitoring
arrangements are in place .
- The Executive agrees with the HCCC that antibiotic
resistance marker genes (ARMs) should be phased out.
The revised Directive and the implementing regulations
make this a legal requirement.
- In line with the Directive the Executive has
introduced mandatory public consultation before
decisions are taken on applications for consent to
release GMOs. For the farm-scale evaluation programme
the Executive put additional steps in place that went
beyond the statutory requirements at the time.
The Executive acknowledges there are some generic
lessons arising from the HCCC inquiry relating to the
importance of communication of science and risk. The
Executive will continue to develop policies and practices
which seek to engage and inform stakeholders more
fully.