The Danish Council of Ethics (Det Etiske R?d) has released an opinion, GMO
and Ethics in A New Era (GMO og etik i en ny tid), calling for a new debate
on genetically modified (GM) plants. According to the Council's opinion, the
modification in plant, and not the technique used that must be the basis for
approval, and that all plants with new properties should be screened
regardless of whether they were developed using gene technology or
traditiona breeding.

The Council of Ethics, which provides advice on ethical issues and creates
debates on new bio and gene technologies to their parliament, authorities
and the public, much has changed since GMOs were first planted in the 1990s.
"Therefore, there is a need for a new position today," said the opinion.

A majority 15 out of 16 members of the Council of Ethics recommend that the
rules for the approval of GMOs be changed. The members' renewed discussion
on GM plants considers the following: new and improved techniques such as
CRISPR which is an easier, faster and more precise tool; more than 20 years
of research showing no scientific evidence that GMOs are more risky than
conventional ones; and the contribution of universities and smaller seed
breeders who are developing GMOs that could help in addressing serious
problems, including climate challenge and biodiversity.

[www.etiskraad.dk]
r/gmo-og-etik-i-en-ny-tid-2019