1. Public Want GM Food Labelled - Survey
2. Consumer survey finds 94pc want GM foods clearly labelled
3. Blair's chief scientist: advocate for nukes

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1. Public Want GM Food Labelled - Survey

Ananova [via http://www.organicts.com/newsnow/Organic.html]
Tuesday June 4, 2002 7:02 AM

An overwhelming majority of the public want food containing genetically modified ingredients to be labelled, according to a survey.

Research for the Consumers' Association found 94% of those questioned wanted all products containing GM items to be labelled as such.

And 87% said even if a GM component could not be detected in the final product it should still be marked as GM.

The European Parliament is debating on Tuesday proposals to give consumers greater information about the use of GM derived ingredients in food.

The proposals would extend labelling rules to require items like GM soya oil to be listed.

Rules in force at the moment only require ingredients that can be detected in the final product to be marked on the packaging.

The Consumers' Association has written to UK MEPs serving on the environment committee asking them to represent the views of the public.

The association wants them to vote for full labelling on products, backed by "traceability" to identify where GM derivatives have been used.

Sue Davies, the Association's principal policy adviser, said: "Our survey shows yet again that current GM labelling laws fall short of consumer demands.

"MEPs must now respond to consumer demand for labelling and vote for a system of traceability."

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2. Consumer survey finds 94pc want GM foods clearly labelled

By Robert Uhlig, Farming Correspondent, Daily Telegraph
(Filed: 04/06/2002)

Nineteen out of every 20 shoppers want foods containing genetically modified ingredients to be labelled as such, according to a survey by the Consumers' Association.

The finding comes after the Government's clearest indication yet that it is having second thoughts about the benefits of GM food production.

Margaret Beckett, the Environment Secretary, has announced that the Government's performance and innovation unit will examine the costs and benefits of GM agriculture. She also announced that a national debate, with public meetings around the country this summer, is to be held on the environmental, consumer and agricultural issues  surrounding GM crops.

Prof David King [see item below], the Government's chief scientist, and Prof Howard Dalton, the chief scientist at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, will lead inquiries into the viability and environmental impact of GM crops.

A recent European Union study found that GM crops such as potatoes, soya and oil seed rape would be economically unsustainable in the long term.

The Consumers' Association study found that 94 per cent of consumers thought food containing GM ingredients should be labelled as such. It also found that 87 per cent of consumers thought food containing ingredients that came from a genetically modified plant, but which could not be detected in the final product because they had been processed, should be labelled as GM.

Labelling rules require only ingredients that can be detected in the end-product to be labelled. New proposals to be debated today by the European Parliament Environment Committee would require all GM ingredients to be labelled, using a system of improved tracing throughout the food supply chain.

Sue Davies, the principal policy adviser at the Consumers' Association, said the Government was not supporting the proposals despite every indication that shoppers want all foods containing GM ingredients of any sort to be clearly labelled as such.

17 May 2002: Brussels tried to cover up GM report

5 February 2002: Fears for babies from GM milk

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3. Nuclear power

Financial Times 27.4.02

Call for new nuclear plants to end reliance on fossil fuels

The Government's chief scientist Professor David King intends to be a powerful advocate for the nuclear cause. Britain could adopt the Westinghouse AP1000 or the South African "pebble bed" reactor. As well as  constructing power stations based on nuclear fission, professor King is keen to develop  nuclear fusion reactors.

[Prof King is to "lead inquiries into the viability and environmental impact of GM crops". King's also on the board of the Science Media Centre]