GM liability set to be next big issue

28 December 2000



GM liability set to be next big issue

by FWi staff

THE question of who will pay if something goes wrong with GM crops will be a big issue over the coming year, according to environmental campaigners.

Pete Riley, food campaigner for Friends of the Earth, said: “Liability over GM crops will be a big issue we must get something on the statute books.

GMs will become an increasingly important issue in South America and Asia as knowledge improves of how GMs affect livelihoods.

Demand for healthy food will rise, especially as more is learned about the effects of pesticides on the hormone systems of mammals and fish, said Mr Riley.

Calls will grow for pesticide residues on food to be banned under the precautionary principle. For some pesticides this time is coming now.

Mr Riley also predicted moves to make the Common Agriculture Policy more environmentally and economically sustainable.