Abstract

Reference: Royal Society, UK 2002. 
Title: Genetically modified plants for food use and human health – an update
Authors: The Royal Society (UK)
Publisher: The Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG, U.K.
Publication details: February 2002, 19p.

In 1998 the Royal Society published a report, Genetically modified plants for food use, which concluded that the use of genetically modified (GM) plants had the potential to offer benefits in agricultural practice, food quality, nutrition and health, but that there were several aspects of GM technology that required further consideration. The Royal Society appointed a group of experts to update this report based on research since 1998. This update focuses on the effects that GM foods might have on human health and the use of the principle of substantial equivalence in GM food safety testing. 

The report endorses the conclusions of the 21st report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (1998) that scientific assessments must inform policy decisions but cannot pre-empt them, and that public opinion must be taken into account throughout. The Royal Society recognises the concerns expressed with regard to the technology and believes that these should continue to be addressed through collaboration and dialogue between industrialists, public sector scientists, regulatory authorities and non-government organisations. It is important that the public debate about GM food takes account of wider issues than the science alone, but we wish to stress the importance of informing debate with sound science.

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