An advisory body on science has dismissed as unwarranted concerns about foods and drugs produced by genetic engineering. It argues however for a "comprehensive information centre" for the public and a "fully independent biotechnology ethics committee".
The independent Government advisers, the Irish Council for Science, Technology and Innovation, released its report on biotechnology yesterday. It described it as a key area "to sustain Ireland's economic growth and to enhance Ireland's capacity to become a knowledge based economy".
It acknowledged, however, that there was a lack of "independently validated and readable information for the general public". The public "is not given the opportunity to fully understand and therefore make informed decisions" on the use of the genetic technologies, the report states.
The report "seeks to promote and achieve a dialogue in biotechnology" between those working in the field and the general public, according the the chairman of the council, Dr Edward Walsh.
The council had established a task force chaired by Prof Emer Colleran of NUI Galway "to provide a scientifically credible, balanced and clear document" to identify public concerns.
Those opposed to field trials using modified plants (GMOs) have argued strongly against the trials sponsored by companies such as Monsanto, amid fears for the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes or other modified genes into wild species.
The science council's report dismisses these concerns. The possibility that antibiotic resistance genes in GMOs could compromise the use of antibiotics in the treatment of diseases "is insignificant compared to the risk of this occurring because of the overuse of antibiotics in medicine, animal feeds and crop farming", it states.
It points out that the two main resistance genes used are for one "rarely used" antibiotic and another which "is not used in human medicine" at all. It also says that this gene exchange in the wild or "horizontal gene transfer" is commonplace in nature "and causes no intrinsic damage".
It argues that biotechnology in food production "is considered the least beneficial application of genetic modification". It acknowledges worries about the risks of eating modified foods, but adds that despite all the plant and animal genetic material consumed in the foods we eat every day, "there is no evidence for the transfer of intact genes into humans" either from bacteria or foodstuffs.
Opponents to the technology also argue that the use of viral genetic material in GMOs, such as the cauliflower mosaic virus, could encourage viral recombination into more dangerous organisms. The report dismisses this, saying "these suggested dangers do not withstand detailed scrutiny".
It also says public concerns have to be addressed "to maximise the potential benefits of the technology while minimising risks to humans, animals and the environment". For this reason it argues for a "balanced, comprehensive information centre for science and technology providing information on current and proposed uses of GMOs".
It wants mandatory labelling of modified foods so that people can make informed choices, and information about any planned release of GMOs. It supports tight regulation of research and clinical trials related to the technology's use as a medical treatment in gene therapy.
It recommends that the Irish Medicines Board and the Environmental Protection Agency should both be involved in regulating the use of gene therapy.
It also calls for "a fully independent biotechnology ethics committee" to be created under the auspices of the Royal Irish Academy.
The academy on behalf of the Government is already putting together a bioethics committee to consider complex issues such as stem cell research, advanced human reproduction techniques and cloning. The broader application of biotechnology would be outside this group's remit as originally envisaged.
