Article: Genetically modified foods and organisms: what in the world...? A comparative analysis of the environmental, economic and social issues surrounding GMOs and the current regulatory response in the United States, European Union and United Kingdom Journal: Interdisciplinary Environmental Review (IER) 2000 Vol.2 No.2 pp.23 - 40 Abstract: This paper examines the current controversy over genetically modified organisms and foods and compares the regulatory response in the United States, European Union and United Kingdom. The paper begins with a discussion of the issues central to the debate on genetically modified foods and organisms: the safety of GM food products, potential environmental risks from GMOs, potential benefits of GMOs and resulting products, economic and trade issues, availability of consumer information, and social/ethical issues. The authors argue first, that there is an environmental, social, and economic basis for regulation. Second, while the reaction of regulators in the European Union and the United Kingdom has been to apply the ||precautionary principle||, reflecting the public|s intense distrust of any type of genetic engineering, the current regulatory response in the United States may not adequately protect against potential environmental and health risks, nor does it provide sufficient information to potential consumers of GM foods. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Genetically modified foods and organisms: what in the world...? A comparative analysis of the environmental, economic and social issues surrounding GMOs and the current regulatory response in the United States, European Union and United Kingdom

Authors: Bridget Lyons, Teresa Ralabate, Marian Calabrese, Linda Hadfield

Addresses: Sacred Heart University, USA. ' LifeSystems, Inc., USA. ' Sacred Heart University, USA. ' Greengauge Consultancy, UK

Abstract: This paper examines the current controversy over genetically modified organisms and foods and compares the regulatory response in the United States, European Union and United Kingdom. The paper begins with a discussion of the issues central to the debate on genetically modified foods and organisms: the safety of GM food products, potential environmental risks from GMOs, potential benefits of GMOs and resulting products, economic and trade issues, availability of consumer information, and social/ethical issues. The authors argue first, that there is an environmental, social, and economic basis for regulation. Second, while the reaction of regulators in the European Union and the United Kingdom has been to apply the ||precautionary principle||, reflecting the public|s intense distrust of any type of genetic engineering, the current regulatory response in the United States may not adequately protect against potential environmental and health risks, nor does it provide sufficient information to potential consumers of GM foods.

Keywords: genetically modified foods; GM foods; genetically modified organisms; environmental issues; economic issues; social issues; ethical issues; GMOs; regualtion; regulatory response; United States; USA; European Union; EU; United Kingdom; UK; ethics; environmental risks; potential benefits; food safety; genetic engineering; health risks.

DOI: 10.1504/IER.2000.053865

Interdisciplinary Environmental Review, 2000 Vol.2 No.2, pp.23 - 40

Published online: 13 May 2013 *

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Title: Genetically modified foods and organisms: what in the world...? A comparative analysis of the environmental, economic and social issues surrounding GMOs and the current regulatory response in the United States, European Union and United Kingdom

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