Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (CoE) RESOLUTION 1419 (2005) - Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) - (January 2005; Rapporteur for opinion: Mrs Fernandez-Capel; Doc. 10406; report by the Committee on the Environment; Doc. 10380)
The productions of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the farming and food sectors and the controversy surrounding them have grown in the last ten years. Opinions differ between the producer countries that are favourable (chiefly the United States) and countries that are hostile (above all in Europe), between developed and developing countries and among farmers, scientists and consumers for example. Some advocate unrestricted distribution while others favour the precautionary principle. Claims that they carry no health risk are countered by others that the ecological risks are unknown. It is true that there are question marks remaining over the development of GM crops, scientific research in this area, coexistence with traditional crops, consumers' freedom of choice, free competition, international trade, patents, the needs of developing countries, proper public information (including through compulsory labelling), the animal feed chain, the precautionary principle and the notion of sustainability. This report takes stock of the issues and calls inter alia for consumers' and producers' freedom of choice, the preservation of sustainable development in agriculture, the precautionary principle, objective scientific debate and public participation. It advocates stricter regulation of labelling, liability, good farming practice and GM-free zones and recommends that parliaments ensure that these proposals are acted upon.
Publication type:
project report
Publication language:
English
Publication date:
2015
Publication URL:
http://assembly.coe.int/Mainf.asp?link=/Documents/AdoptedText/ta05/ERES1419.htm
Institute:
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) (PACE)
Country:
EU
Project:
Genetically modified organisms (PACE)