GM Science Review: Overview

A distinct part of the national dialogue was to consider the current state of the science behind GM issues, at the time.

The Science review was led by Professor Sir David King (the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser) working with Professor Howard Dalton (the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), with independent advice from the Food Standards Agency.

The objectives were:

• to allow the interests and concerns of the public to drive the review
• to allow ready access to science concerning GM
• to allow ready access to the evidence based opinions of people and organisations on the science

The scientific community and members of the public with scientific views were invited to submit contributions, which have been placed on this dedicated web site. Open meetings were also arranged where scientists discussed aspects of key scientific issues before an audience, who were given an opportunity to ask questions.

The expert Science Review Panel, chaired by Professor Sir David King, had two principal functions: to monitor the progress and credibility of the Science Review and, towards the end of the review, summarise the state of scientific knowledge, consensus and areas of uncertainty on each key issue. The panel operated in an open and transparent way; it met in public. The draft report inviting comments, as well as the final summary report, were placed on this website. The reports were written for Government, for the Scientific Community, and for the interested public, and with public accessibility in mind.

The topic areas under review in the forum are those widely debated by the science community, stakeholders and the regulatory authorities.

After the Panel published its First Report, it reconvened to consider any further significant scientific developments that it should address - including consideration of the GM crop Farm-scale Evaluation results, any scientific issues arising from the report of the GM Public Debate, "GM Nation?", and the comments on its first report and later submissions to the website Forum. The conclusions were published in the Second Report on 22 January 2004.

For further information see:

• Discussion topics - direct contributions via the web site
• Open meetings

For further information on the three strands of the GM Dialogue see this page. For further information on the membership and proceedings of the Scientific Review Panel see this page.