GMOs causing 'genetic pollution', parliament conference told

A conference in parliament has heard that "genetic pollution" is being "imposed" on the public via GMO products.

French ALDE deputy Corinne Lepage told the hearing on Thursday that any supposed advantages of  GMO products were "hugely outweighed" by the disadvantages.

Lepage, vice-chair of the environment committee, said, "We in Europe are very fortunate that we have very few GMO products, particularly compared with the United States.

"However, we must continue to make every effort to press for GMO-free agriculture."

She said that while the environmental impact of GMO products "was well known", what is not "so clear" are the consequences on health.

"That is why we should demand more studies and data on this," she said.

"We need to do what the public want here, that is, establish GMO-free farming.

"I find it unacceptable and intolerable and cannot understand that despite the public being very clearly against GMOs the technology, which is a form of genetic pollution, is still being imposed on them.

Lepage's comments come 48 hours after the EU was accused of allowing politics rather than science to dominate decision making on genetically modified crops.

Mike Mack, the chief executive of Syngenta AG, said the EU "is moving further and further away from the principles of science-based decision making".

Mack, whose Swiss-based company makes products to kill weeds and bugs as well as GMO seeds, added, "It is perfectly reasonable to ask about the health and safety of humans and the health and safety of the environment in relation to GM crops.

"But subject to appropriate testing and scientific investigation it seems to be a tool that is absolutely essential to be thinking about using," he told a food security conference.

"There are quite clearly political views that are fundamentally against GM irrespective of the scientific advice and that is really unfortunate."

GMO crops have struggled to gain approval in Europe, with biotech-sceptic states often managing to prevent a majority consensus under the EU's complex weighted voting system, creating a deadlock.

Opponents have cited both public health and environmental concerns.

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