Is The European Commission Acting Responsibly In Respect To GM Crops?

It has been recently reported that "The European Commission has denied it had decided to put on hold until 2014 the process of authorising genetically modified (GM) crops in the bloc". But neither have they made any commitments otherwise.

The commissary for health and consumer policy, also clarified that whilst a decision on the permitting process hadn't yet been taken it neither sought to suspend existing permits.

Which in effect means that with respect to this potentially highly dangerous or possibly perfectly safe new method of producing our foods, they are simply going to do nothing to protect consumers one way or the other.

It is not as if the EU governing body is starved of the necessary cash to have considered this matter in sufficient depth or that they haven't had enough time as to my certain knowledge the GM argument must already have passed its first decade of discussion.

This can only mean that the people in the driving seat of European food production and safety are either incapable of making a clear decision or are unable to gain a consensus of agreement due to the lobbying of differing national or financial interests.

Which then begs the question if consumer safety is not paramount in their decision making processes, then why are they there?

Throughout the media we hear how the EU power base are not slow in coming forward in demanding ever more of taxpayers hard earned money to increase their annual spending power but if protecting its citizens and food sustainability from potential harm isn't high on their priority list then what is?

GM foods may appear on paper a wonderful method of increasing output in a world frightened of food shortages of the future.
But equally GM crops could subtly change the balance of nature, exhaust essential nutrients from the land and cause problems never before considered.
Or GM produce may attract new insects, birds, bacteria, parasites or moulds thus changing our pollination and germination cycle, but for the better or ill?

If truth be told politicians of whatever hue probably have no better insight than a local man of the land as to whether GM crops are safe to be let loose or not. But the purpose of government is to lead, to set a course and see it run. If GM crops are to be given the green light then put control measure in place and get on with it. Or if they are to be banned then that decision should be made and cast in stone accordingly.

Hiding from the issue should not be a permitted option as a lack of direction can only result in problems compounding and it is the poor consumer who will ultimately suffer when supply dries up or toxic foods silently invade the marketplace.

So no in my view I don't believe the European Commission are acting responsibly in respect to GM crops.

But is anyone listening?

Hobson Tarrant

Food Hygiene Certificate Level 2 training online as coordinated by Hobson Tarrant is available at: http://www.foodsafetycertificate.co. As Project Development Manager for the e-learning industrial skills training specialist Torchlight Training2012 his extensive experience of the UK food industry and food handler training comes to the fore in the SafeFood Hygiene Certificate package at the highly competitive price of £15 per student.

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