The Natural Law Party congratulates Prince Charles for his outspoken stand on genetically engineered food.

The Natural Law Party has congratulated the Prince of Wales on his strong stand against genetic engineering of foods. The party is launching a new campaign to prevent further test for genetic-free zones to be established wherever there is a threat of experimental crops being grown.

"The Natural Law Party supports Prince Charles's view that the risks of genetic engineering far outweigh any possible benefit that might result," said Dr Geoffrey Clements, leader of the party. "We were delighted to read in his article that 'agriculture should proceed in harmony with nature'. The uniqueness of the Natural Law Party is that it has practical programmes to bring every profession in alliance with Natural Law.

The Natural Law Party was the first political party in this country to take a definitive stand on genetic engineering and to call for a moratorium on the release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the environment and the use of GMOS and their derivatives in food. The Natural Law Party took this stand because of the grave risks for human health and the environment.

In addition to mounting a campaign to inform the public of the dangers of genetically engineered food and working with other organisations to help achieve this, the Natural Law Party has consistently emphasised the importance of creating an integrated and positive national consciousness in every country, in order to bring life everywhere in alliance with Natural Law. This would create an environment in which only healthy approaches to agriculture and nutrition find acceptance.

"Now that Prince Charles has spoken out on this issue, we are confident that all of the millions of people for whom genetic engineering is repugnant will take courage and make it clear to retailers that they will not buy genetically engineered foods," Dr Clements said.

Dr Clements referred to the increasing evidence highlighting the dangers of releasing genetically modified organisms into the environment.

"We are commited to a comprehensive plan to bring agriculture in accord with natural law in a profitable, sustainable manner and to make us once again confident that our food is safe and healthy," Dr Clements said.

The Natural Law Party was one of the first organisations to take a stand on this issue. Since 1996, when it launched its Campaign to Ban Genetically Engineered Food, it has acted as a catalyst for other organisations and has helped inform the public and retailers on the scientific facts of the issue.

At the same time the party has offered its programmes for creating a more integrated and coherent national consciousness in every country, as a long-term solution to the problem.