GOVERNMENT TO MONITOR GENETIC CROPS
PA 17.12.98 03:49
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By Amanda Brown, Environment Correspondent, PA News
A Government bid to try and improve safety over genetic
engineering and
biotechnology will be unveiled today.
The move comes amid growing concern from environmental groups
about the spread
of trial crops of genetically modified plants.
They fear an ever growing risk of contamination with non-modified
plants and
long term threats to human health as a result.
Dr Jack Cunningham, Minister for the Cabinet Office, is to chair
a new
ministerial group which has been set up to ensure effective
co-ordination of
policy in biotechnology and genetic modification, across
Whitehall.
He will be announcing how the committee intends to monitor
developments in
this area and ways Britain can capitalise on the vast markets in
Europe and
worldwide to ensure that the products and processes are
rigorously assessed and
carefully regulated in the interests of safety.
ends