This article examines European Union (EU) experts’ attitude towards use of genetically modified organisms (GMO) in food, feed
and other industries with an eye to developing a general model of EU experts’ opinion formation in this area. The gene
engineering has seen rapid advances in recent years with a host of new applications in medicine, agriculture, and related fields.
Taking into account the history of consumption, social, economic, cultural and other aspects and the risk perception in general
regarding these products the consumers’ willingness to buy genetically modified (GM) products varies from country to country
as well as attitude of the experts involved in the decision making process.
The objective of this study is to investigate opinion and attitude of the EU experts involved in GMO decision making process
toward use of GMO in food, feed and other industries. To obtain this objective the relevant aspects have been analyzed using
responses to a survey designed to elicit experts’ reaction to various approaches to using of GMO. It is indisputable that the
experts have higher level of knowledge about gene engineering technology, and their attitude towards GMO is not extreme as
attitude of an average EU consumer. They make decisions based on knowledge, experience and safety of a particular GMO and
not on GMO in general.