FSA News Item, 17 September 2010
Ministers have confirmed to the Food Standards Agency that the GM (genetic modification) dialogue project will not continue in its current format.
The details of the Government’s policy on the use of GM technology in food and agriculture are still being determined and any future public engagement will be an element of this.
The GM dialogue project was being co-ordinated by the Food Standards Agency following a request by the previous Government, with the aim of discussing consumers’ views of the risks and benefits of GM. Following the change in Government, Ministers had been asked if they wanted to continue with this project.
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Press Release, 16 September 2010
Talking to the public about science and technology is crucial to effective decision-making in everyday life, University and Science Minister David Willetts will say today when he visits the British Science Festival.
Speaking about the festival, Mr Willetts said:
“Every year this festival conveys the wonder and importance of science and engineering in a different part of the country. The UK has a thriving science festival scene which leads the way in entertaining and engaging the widest possible audience with these issues. I'm also delighted that this summer three public dialogues on topical science issues have been completed. I am committed to supporting excellent ways to engage the public with science.”
In the keynote speech at the British Science Festival Dinner, the Minister announced that the present GM dialogue project will not continue in its current format.
The GM dialogue project was being co-ordinated by the Food Standards Agency following a request by the previous Government, with the aim of discussing consumers’ views of the risks and benefits of GM. Following the change in Government, Ministers had been asked if they wanted to continue with this project.
Mr Willetts said:
“I’m announcing today that the GM dialogue project will not continue in its current format. However, it's vital to engage people of all ages on scientific issues, so that they have a real say about developments which can affect all of us. Instead we are taking this valuable opportunity to step back and review past dialogues on GM and other areas of science to ensure we understand how best to engage the public over such issues.”
The details of the Government’s policy on the use of GM technology in food and agriculture are still being determined, but all policies will be based on robust evidence. Developing effective and appropriate public engagement will need to be an element of this.