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Genetic modification raises issues of significant public interest, and in 2002 the Government announced that it would promote a national dialogue on these issues, against the background of the possible commercial production of GM crops in the UK. There were three strands to the dialogue: a Science Review, a Public Debate and an Economic Study.
The GM Science Review was led by Sir David King (the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser), working with Professor Howard Dalton (the Chief Scientific Adviser to Defra) and with independent advice from the Food Standards Agency. An expert GM Science Review Panel, chaired by Sir David King, published its first report on 21 July 2003, which reviews and summarises the state of scientific knowledge and areas of uncertainty in relation to GM crops and food. A second report was published on 22 January 2004, which takes account of the outcome of the 'GM Nation?' public debate, comments on the first report and further developments in the science.
The Economic Study was published on 11 July 2003 and the report on the Public Debate was published on 24 September 2003.
