It is important that consumers feel confident about the food they buy.
Modern biotechnology is therefore subject to strict controls.
These are designed to ensure that new genetically modified products are safe to eat and that they pose no new risks to the environment. European legislation on novel foods is implemented in the UK by a strict regulatory process involving a number of different committees, each composed of independent experts. Many of these people are scientists but the committees also include individuals who are primarily concerned with ethical and consumer issues.