The issues involved in the production, regulation and marketing of GM foods are complex. Positions are polarized. There are those who believe that modern biotechnology has provided and will provide significant benefits for both farmers and consumers. They are opposed by those who hold that it is only the inventors of genetically modified products who are likely to benefit significantly, while the population as a whole may have to bear unacceptable risks to health and the environment. There are also sharp differences of opinion concerning the implications of agricultural biotechnology for developing countries. Some see it as a means of considerably enhancing food supplies in vulnerable regions of the world, while others fear that it will lead to the exploitation of both growers and consumers in impoverished countries. The fact that there are divergent views on such a complex issue is not surprising. Nor should it be a reason for failure to take action that is in the public interest - namely, to capture the benefits of biotechnological innovation while providing reasonable protection against potential harms. Our findings and recommendations in this regard fall under four themes: good governance, precaution, information and consumer choice, and social and ethical considerations.We conclude that no scientific evidence exists to suggest that GM plants and foods currently in the market pose any greater health or environmental risk than other foods. This does not mean that one should take these products or the underlying technology used to develop them lightly. There is a need not only to develop methods for long-term surveillance of health and environmental impacts, but also to ensure that regulatory processes are able to deal effectively with the more complex products on the horizon. The incorporation of ethical considerations into public policy on biotechnology in general - and on GM and other novel foods in particular - poses a continuing challenge for government and is an important topic in CBAC's ongoing program of activities. We look forward to the government's response to our findings and recommendations.