UK ENERGY SAVING SHOCKED AT EU DECISION TO ALLOW GM CONTENT IN ORGANIC PRODUCTS

UK Energy Saving was shocked to learn of the EU’s decision to allow up to 0.9% of organic products to be genetically modified (GM) whilst still being labelled as GM free.

[ClickPress, Sun Jun 24 2007] UK Energy Saving was shocked to learn of the EU’s decision to allow up to 0.9% of organic products to be genetically modified (GM) whilst still being labelled as GM free. Organic food in particular, along with other organic products, is becoming more popular as consumers realise the potential health and environmental benefits, and UK Energy Saving dedicates a section of their website, www.uk-energy-saving.com, to organic products.

In spite of the growing organic market, the EU has decided that ‘zero tolerance’ of GM content is not practical and will lead to higher costs. This is despite evidence to the contrary, certainly in the UK, where the Soil Association and other certification bodies currently don’t allow any GM content and yet the organic market seems to be flourishing. Whilst the EU have stated that the 0.9% content is allowable on the grounds that it is to cover ‘accidental contamination’, there is unease from environmental groups that this will simply lead to less stringent rules for organic production.

Hayley Jones, Web Marketing Director of www.uk-energy-saving.com, feels that this is an unnecessary and worrying move. “Consumers are buying more and more organic produce, which is certified as GM free. One of the reasons that consumers are buying is due to concerns over GM food, so surely this move would have a much more detrimental effect on the organic market than a ‘zero tolerance’ approach. In an age of consumer choice, the EU is taking that away by allowing GM content in both organic and non-organic food. What choice are consumers then left with?”

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