A leading Muslim educator favors the safe use and propagation of biotechnology in agriculture and medicine as long as the producers and technology used comply with the basic tenets of the Koran.

In a forum among scientists, Christian and Muslim leaders held at Annabel's Restaurant in Quezon City, on Monday, Dr. Carmen Abubakar, dean of the University of the Philippines-Institute of Islamic Studies, said biotechnology or genetically modified food is acceptable to Muslims only as long as the processed is clearly labeled as "free from haram elements."

Haram generally means taboo, but in case of food, it refers to forbidden ingredients like swine extracts, blood, wine and other elements that Muslims are barred from consuming.

Abubakar said biotechnology is not new to the Islamic world, adding that as early as 2000, Muslim scientists have already been studying genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their potential contribution to the growing Muslim population.

In an Islamic Conference held in Rabat, Morocco on October 24, 2001, the Islamic Academy of Science (IAS) came out with the "Rabat Declaration on Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering for Development in the Islamic World."

Accordingg to Abubakar, the IAS issued a decree that as long as GM products are of good quality and pose no risk to the person and the environment, the Muslims may use them.

The Malaysian Biotechnology Information Center also came out with ethical criteria regarding the use of biotechnological products like processed food. The report said that the food to be consumed by Muslims should be halalan tayyipan, or "permissible," based on Shariah perspective. Food quality and safety are of utmost importance to those practicing Islam.

"In the case of GM foods, as long as they meet these criteria, then it is consumable by Muslims," Abubakar said. "The IAS is determining the sources of GM food. If the source come from items which are labeled as haram, so definitely this GMO product is also forbidden."

On the other hand, she said that technological conversion of anything derived from swine cannot be consumed by Muslims. She said that this is where the problem of labeling is important.

"It has been found out that some items that are sourced from haram elements enter into processed food but they are not labeled accordingly. The whole Muslim world urges government to make sure that any product from this technology is consumable according to Muslims' ethical prescription. So it is very important that the label clearly states its genetically modified contents."

Bishop Jesus Varela, bishop emeritus of Sorsogon, also told participants that "there are some 800 million people all over the world who are suffering from hunger and malnutrition in varying degrees. Society's moral responsibility to feed these teeming millions is inexorable, and food biotechnology offers a humane solution since it promises to improve significantly crop yield and increase resistance to pests and diseases."

Varela told a large group of Muslims in the forum that modern science and technology can offer solutions if applied appropriately, and that the use of GMO in food is a human decision that must be examined under the Rules of Ethics.