(C) BRC

British Retail Consortium

The Voice of British Retailing

I'm writing on behalf of UK food retailers* to inform you of their policy in regard to the sale of foods containing soya bean, in view of the first global harvest of genetically modified soya in the USA this autumn.

I'd be grateful if you would kindly disseminate this among your membership with a view to ensuring they are in no doubt as to what is to be expected of them as their suppliers. I confirm this policy has been adopted by all European retailers as represented within the European association, EuroCommerce.

UK Retail Policy Statement on

Genetically Modified Soya Bean

Retailers in both UK and elsewhere in Europe have a positive view of Biotechnology and the potential benefits it can bring in terms of improved product quality, taste, nutrition, reduced price and environmental advantages. Retailers are reassured about the safety of the genetically modified herbicide tolerant soya bean developed by Monsanto, which has been subject to add extensive review and approval by a number of regulatory bodies, but they are concerned about the way it is being introduced to the market.

Retailers in the UK in particular have worked to develop industry policy of clear labelling and open communication has been a key factor in the successful launch of the UK's first genetically modified whole food in the form of a genetically modified tomato puree sold by Safeway and Sainsburys.

Retailers in the UK and Europe as a whole are clear that the preservation of consumer choice is paramount, and that substantial work over several years on product and ingredient traceabilty should not be compromised. In this respect, the mixing of genetically modified and conventional soya beans from the 1996 USA crop due for harvest this autumn is unacceptable, and retailers fully expect that systems be implemented to separate modified from conventional soya beans so that consumers' right to choose is preserved.

Should full segregation of the 1996 harvest in USA not be achieved, British and other European retailers are fully prepared to take the appropriate action to develop alternative sources of conventional soya bean or reformulate products to utilise soya alternaives in order to maintain consumers' ability to exercise informed choice.

Sincerely yours,

JANET NUNN

DIRECTOR ( FOOD AND DRINK)

*Key BRC food retail members: Asda Stores Ltd, Co-operative Union Ltd, Iceland Frozen Food plc, Kwik Save Stores Ltd, National Association of Master Bakers, National Federation of Meat and Food Traders, Safeway Stores plc, J. Sainsbury plc, Somefield Stores Ltd, Scottish Grocers' Federation, Spar Landmark Ktd, Tesco Stores Ltd, Waitrose Ltd.