Italian Green Addresses Altered Foods.

• Author: Colacicchi, Lorenzo
• Position: Gianni Tamino - Brief Article

Gianni Tamino, co-Vice President of the European Greens, is the most active of the Italian Greens on the matter of Genetic Engineering. I asked Gianni what he thought should be done to keep genetic engineering under control.

He said that it is urgent that legal instruments be created that regulates the research, experimentation and the use of genetic manipulation techniques. Establishing new rules does not mean limiting the freedom of research, but to reaffirm that research cannot be immoral. Also, once it has been scientifically proven that a certain procedure is possible, whether it should actually be done or not, after considering all the possible consequences, regards the whole of society. Thus the principle of caution must be applied. Not everything that science says is possible must actually be done.

It is necessary to verify what any undesirable side effects could be, with a moral obligation to forbid any technologies for which we cannot predict the real consequences, not just in the short term, but also in respect to future generations.

Until today there has been a total lack of respect for the public right to be completely informed; and to take part in the decision making process in such a way that decisions be made with the full participation of the community. This means transparency of those that operate manufacturing plants, avoiding industrial secrecy and guaranteeing maximum information on all products put on the consumer market. Labels must be clear and easy to read and understand: they must indicate both the ingredients...