Ministers unveil plans to dampen unease over GM crops

New measures intended to address the low level of public confidence in genetically modified (GM) crops and foods were announced by the Government in October. Limits on the commercialisation of GM crops have been agreed with the biotechnology industry, along with large-scale trials to assess the impacts of herbicide-tolerant crops on biodiversity. Crucial details are still lacking, but the measures are unlikely to hurt biotechnology businesses in the short term, and have been criticised by some environmental groups as opening the door further to GM crops. A stakeholder forum on biotechnology and a bioethics commission have also been mooted, but firm decisions on them have yet to be taken.