PROJECT No. 2
 
GMO & Food Safety: Communication of Risk and Relevant Legislation in Various States
December 2002
 
 

 
ABSTRACT:
 
The topic of GMO is after all a political question with a big influence to economy. A psychology is a significant aspect of this question from the view of consumers. The biological and health aspects are quite marginal. Especially a European legislative is based on this situation. It is easy to separate a legislative from communication risk: a legislative not only formulates risks, but creates entirely hypothetical risks and thanks to its diction escalates the feelings of the risk around people. First, hence there are some regulations mentioned in project and as well the references, coming from various institutions, relate to the real or hypothetical risks. It is impossible to separate suitably the GMO regulation in general and aspect of GMO-made food. For instance, since the beginning the Czech Commission for GMO manipulation has been going by the regulation which say that whatever can be eaten, it must be assessed as a foodstuff. Finally, the case of maize variety StarLink has shown that this approach is necessary. That is why the question of foodstuff is presented in text as a part of overall regulation of GMO manipulation.

The communication risk is rather a political question no professional and must be presented like that. Mostly the public does not know well either principles of genetic modification or genetic, even the techniques of modern breeding. Thereby the public approach is not rational, but emotional relate to the question of sanitary plants and food sources. There is only a question: who and what information has the influence on the emotions.
 

 
 
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