London 5 September - Regulatory structures for GM and cloned animals are needed urgently if the hullabaloo that surrounded the introduction of GM crops in the UK is to be avoided. In a report published this week – Animals and Biotechnology – the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission (AEBC) argued also that all developments in livestock farming should have a clear purpose and be seen in the context of society's wider relationship with animals, whether they involved traditional or new techniques.
The Commission, which advises the UK government on biotechnology issues affecting agriculture and the environment, including reporting on field tests of genetically modified crops, was particularly concerned that genetic modification should not be driven by commercial motives alone.
To engage the public more effectively in decisions about genetic biotechnology, the Commission calls for new methods and funding, and recommends setting up a strategic advisory body to examine issues raised ...
