Doctors to debate motion on GM foods

The Irish Medical Organisation's AGM in Killarney tomorrow will hear renewed calls on the Government to impose a moratorium on the growing of genetically modified food.

The conference will also hear motions on the organisation's concerns about road safety, public health issues, environmental pollution and drug policy. The IMO will also debate antismoking motions which call for a rise in the price of tobacco, a free nicotine replacement therapy programme and an increase in children's consultant posts in hospitals.

Speaking to The Irish Times yesterday, Dr Elizabeth Cullen, of Kildare, said doctors are deeply concerned about the "rapid and uncontrolled" introduction of genetically manipulated foods into the food chain through animal and human food. Dr Cullen said a genetically modified tomato with a fish gene was still labelled and described as a tomato "which is probably true as far as language goes but nonetheless untrue because this tomato contains substances not normally found in tomatoes".

"Never in history have free people been fed foods that were entirely untested for safety," said Dr Cullen, who described the sale of genetically modified food as "an illegitimate mass experiment on people who are not informed, have not given their consent".

Dr Cullen will seek the backing of the IMO for a call on the Government to reconsider a moratorium on the growing of such plants within the State. She will also be asking for backing for a ban on such food for human and animal consumption, together with regulations to ensure that any genetically modified plants are clearly labelled.

On road safety, the conference will hear a proposal from the North Eastern Health Board GPs' branch calling on the Government to make it illegal for a person to walk on an unlit roadside at night-time without wearing some form of reflective clothing.

The IMO will also be asked to endorse a call for the construction of ramps and chicanes in housing estates "to reduce the number and severity of road traffic accidents in these areas". Another motion calls for the Government to give the Garda the resources to implement the "Road to Safety" strategy.

The conference will also hear arguments that the policy of ward and theatre closures for budgetary reasons be abandoned and that a free GP system for the whole population be negotiated.

The conference takes place tomorrow and Saturday in the Hotel Europe, Killarney.