The American Medical Association (AMA) recently adopted a policy supporting agricultural biotechnology but called for federal regulatory oversight of it.
AMA says the oversight should be science-based and "guided by the characteristics of the plant, its intended use and the environment into which it is to be introduced - not by the method used to produce it."
The medical group points out that biotech crops such at Bt corn have been available for several years and no long-term affects have been detected.
According to its report, "The AMA recognizes many potential benefits offered by genetically modified crops and foods, does not support a moratorium on planting genetically modified crops and encourages ongoing research developments in food biotechnology."
The group says there's no scientific basis for labeling genetically modified foods and voluntary labeling would be ineffective without consumer education.