The drafting of the new regulations on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the European Union (EU) has been a difficult and controversial task. EU regulators have been faced with the challenge of creating rules that address the possible risks tohealth and the environment from GMOs, in the face of scientific uncertainty regarding these risks. They have also had to ensure that the new rules will give consumers confidence in the safety of those GMOs that are approved for use in the EU. This is part of a general effort to address the erosion of consumer confidence in the EU regulatory system following several recent food-safety crises. As the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, David Byrne, said in 2001, "Unless we can give EU consumers confidence in this new technology then GM is dead in Europe."
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