There is a widespread sense in Europe, which now is rapidly spreading to North America and other continents, that the force driving these developments namely the wish to reduce costs and increase profits for seed suppliers, farmers and food producers is a force that actually works against consumer interests. This may be a misconceived anxiety, but it needs to be taken seriously. The wide-ranging public demands on the industry and regulatory authorities are increasing. These are not demands that can be brushed aside as a simple fear of progress. The biotechnology and food industries have to be sensitive to consumer doubts.
Biotechnology has an important role to play to improve nutrition values and food security worldwide.
But unless we accommodate consumer concerns and accept the need for increased testing and research on the possible effects on humans and the environment of the new crops, we will not achieve the progress we hope for. As a leading agency on food safety standards, WHO has a role to play here. I have proposed food safety as an area of selected priorities for WHO in the years to come. Last week, our Executive Board approved our plan to expand and intensify WHO s role in the area of food safety. Among our areas of interest is the determination of research needs on genetically modified foods to assess whether they have any potential implications for human health.