SciDev.Net

Indonesia's leading authority on Islam has given the go-ahead for Muslims to eat genetically modified (GM) crops.

The Straits Times reports that Aisyah Girindra, head of medicine and food supervision at the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) has said that "as long as it comes from [plants], such as soya bean or corn, there are no problems" with the consumption of GM food.

MUI's announcement does not constitute an official edict, or 'fatwa'. But it does indicate that, in the absence of a fatwa, Muslim consumers can go ahead and eat GM foods. Almost 90 per cent of Indonesia's 215 million inhabitants are Muslims.

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