BMA Warn Public Health Risk from GM

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Wednesday, 20 November 2002

Senior doctors have demanded an immediate halt to genetically modified crop trials in a move that piles pressure on the Scottish Executive to reconsider its controversial backing for the programme.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has warned that insufficient care is being taken to protect public health and that there has been a lack of public consultation about crop trials despite the steady increase in the number of them.

The demand that there should be a moratorium on any further planting of GM crops on a commercial basis is made in a submission to the Scottish parliament’s health committee.

The BMA’s warning about the dangers of continuing with trials will be seen by anti-GM crop campaigners as giving powerful weight to their argument that the issue must now be reconsidered by Ross Finnie, the environment minister.

Robin Harper, the Scottish Green Party MSP, said last night: "I am delighted that the BMA have been prepared to take the same line that we have been pursuing for some time. It is a very welcome position and one that must lead to the trials being halted."

Source: David Scott The Scotsman 18 Nov 02