A Welsh court heard that Dr Chris Jones altered the Novel Foods status of the ryegrass species, Festuca arundinaceum, from ‘uncertain’, therefore deceiving Asphalia into thinking the ingredient could be utilised in products.
This followed dialogue the company had with the FSA, in which it attempted to demonstrate that the ingredient was present in EU markets before May, 1997,and therefore did not require Novel Foods status.
“Because of an arbitrary date of enforcement of a law enacted in Brussels that was originally intended to protect people from GM foods, a small Welsh company’s future is now held in the balance while the company’s director could be made a criminal.” said expert for the defence, Robert Verkerk PhD, who is also the executive and scientific director for the Alliance for Natural Health.
A verdict is expected on July 28.