GM crops? : coexistence and liability / a report by the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission.

  • Great Britain. Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission
Date:
2003
Catalogue details

Licence: Open Government Licence

Credit: GM crops? : coexistence and liability / a report by the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    GM or GM derivatives in it ... We decided to remove the GM from the Tesco brand in order to provide a choice between Tesco brand and the branded products which we sell in our stores as well ... Customers showed their preference to the extent that the branded manufacturers then decided to remove GM from their products too ... | am not aware that another supermarket is intentionally selling GM**. The UKk’s principal supermarkets recently confirmed that this remains their policy, based on their assessment of consumer wishes”. A recent survey by BBC News On-line confirmed this®. The Co-operative Group has announced that as well as banning the sale under its own brand label of any products that contain GM ingredients, it will not allow the growing of GM crops on its land°'. However, supermarkets continue to sell products manufactured using GM processing aids, notably vegetarian cheese, which is not required to be labelled as having been produced using GMOs. 61. GM animal feed (particularly soya) is already used in conventional livestock production in the UK. Some sectors, such as the poultry industry, use non-GM feed only, and all organic livestock production avoids using GM feed, but non-GM sourcing has not been adopted across the industry, partly as a matter of interpreting consumer demand for products derived from livestock fed specifically on GM material, and partly because of question marks over whether this would be practicable, particularly given the heavy use of imported soya products for livestock production. 62. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) describes itself as the lead trade association representing the whole range of retailers, from the large multiples and department stores through to independents, selling a wide selection of products through centre of town, out of town, rural and virtual stores. According to its website”, “retailers will consider the sale of GM food to foods containing GM ingredients, provided they have clear approval from the regulatory authorities and where they have confirmed a clear customer demand. Such demand could arise from the offering of food that demonstrates a real benefit to the consumer, for example, food which has an enhanced nutritional content, an improved taste or keeping quality or a lower price ... Retailers are committed to giving their customers informed choice”. As noted above, this policy has not changed, nor have the BRC or leading retailers given any indication that it is likely to do so in the present circumstances. 63. A recent survey in 2003 by IGD, which provides data services on consumer attitudes for the food and grocery industry, found that in terms of consumers’ attitudes in practice, “GM currently appears to [be] making little difference to °8 He did not at that time suggest that Tesco or other supermarkets were aiming for a level of GM content below the 1% prescribed in EU legislation. °° From The Guardian, ‘Shops‘ unlikely to stock GM’, 16 July 2003: “Richard Ali, director of food policy at the British Retail Consortium, said: Our position remains unchanged. We are neutral on GM technology. But we provide what customers demand and they do not want GM food. Mr Ali said a shift would probably come only if it was proved that GM products had tangible benefits for consumers - for example, extra vitamin content. The communications director for Safeway, Kevin Hawkins, said: I think it's very difficult to see what will move public opinion. We have certainly seen no change in what people think about GM. Kate O'Sullivan of Sainsbury's said: Customers have made it clear they do not want GM ingredients. Tesco and Asda also said they had seen no radical change in public attitude.” 6° Where supermarkets stand on GM food, BBC News On-line, 21 October 2003. (http://news.bbe.co.uk/1/hi/uW/321 1510.stm) Co-operative Group announcement, 20 October 2003. The Co-op is the UK’s single largest farmer. me http://www.brc.org.uk. ’ GM CROPS? COEXISTENCE AND LIABILITY PAGE 29