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Mothers for Natural LawInternational News on Genetic Engineering in AgricultureBiweekly News 99/04/16Thanks to Cliff Kinzel and Richard Wolfson for these items.
Articles have been aggressively shortened. ------------------ http://www.twnside.org.sg/souths/twn/title/world-cn.htm World Scientists' Statement -- Calling for a Moratorium on GM Crops and Ban on Patents We the undersigned scientists call upon our Governments to: Impose an immediate moratorium on further environmental releases of transgenic crops, food and animal-feed products for at least 5 years. Ban patents on living organisms, cell lines and genes. Support a comprehensive, independent public enquiry into the future of agriculture and food security for all, taking account of the full range of scientific findings as well as socioeconomic and ethical implications. ...
Contact: Mae-Wan Ho/Angela Ryan, Institute of Science in Society Tel/Fax: 44-181-441-6480 E-mail: i-sis@Dircon.co.uk ------------------ Here are the Conclusions and Recommendations of the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare on the Animal Welfare Aspects of the Use of Bovine Somatotrophin (Adopted 10 March 1999). Full text is on website europa.eu.int/comm/dg24/health/sc/scah/out21_en.html General conclusion BST is used to increase milk yield, often in already high-producing cows. BST administration causes substantially and very significantly poorer welfare because of increased foot disorders, mastitis, reproductive disorders and other production related diseases. These are problems which would not occur if BST were not used and often results in unnecessary pain, suffering and distress. If milk yields were achieved by other means which resulted in the health disorders and other welfare problems described above, these means would not be acceptable. The injection of BST and its repetition every 14 days also causes localised swellings which are likely to result in discomfort and hence some poor welfare. Recommendation BST use causes a substantial increase in levels of foot problems and mastitis and leads to injection site reactions in dairy cows. These conditions, especially the first two, are painful and debilitating, leading to significantly poorer welfare in the treated animals. Therefore from the point of view of animal welfare, including health, the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare is of the opinion that BST should not be used in dairy cows. ------------------ FRIENDS OF THE EARTH: GM Legal Action -- Government Hoists White Flag -- Major Setback for Biotech Industry April 9, 1999 M2 PRESSWIRE via NewsEdge Corporation: The Government has been forced to admit that its attempt to speed up the commercial development of genetically modified (GM) seed is illegal. The humiliating u-turn follows yesterday's legal challenge by Friends of the Earth and an all-party group of MPs - Norman Baker MP (Lib Dem, Lewes), John Randall (Con, Uxbridge) and Alan Simpson (Lab, Nottingham South). The Ministry of Agriculture (MAFF) planned to short-circuit a statutory seed approval system, taking at least two years off the time needed to bring GM crops to the marketplace [1]. MAFF lawyers have now written to FOE (copy available) conceding that their non-statutory provisional seed "certification" scheme is illegal. MAFF will now need new legislation - which it hopes will be in place by the end of July - to legally allow GM seed commercialisation to be fast-tracked [2]. However, FOE believes that any attempts to speed up certification could be against European law. M2 PRESSWIRE -- 04/08/99
------------------ Swiss Ban Genetically Modified Maize and Potatoes 12:11 a.m. Apr 17, 1999 Eastern ZURICH (Reuters) - Switzerland Friday prohibited the release into the environment of genetically modified maize and potatoes -- the first official ruling on the controversial issue of planting genetically modified organisms. The ruling does not affect imports of genetically altered products for use in food and fodder. BUWAL, the federal environment office, said it had turned down a request by Pluess-Staufer AG to test T25 maize as well as a petition by the federal research institute RAC to test transgenic potatoes. It cited health and environmental concerns. ``In BUWAL's opinion, there is insufficient evidence that there is no need for concern for humans and the environment,'' it said in a statement. The decision can be appealed within 30 days. Hans Hosbach, head of BUWAL's biotechnology and flux of substances section, said the decision made non-EU Switzerland a unique island within Europe, where most states including neighboring Germany and Italy permit growing genetically modified crops. ``Switzerland has now said: 'No. We don't want this,''' Hosbach told Reuters. BUWAL said it turned down the maize request due to concerns over inadvertent pollination. It rejected the other tests out of concern the genetically modified potatoes contained genes which could make some bacteria resistant to certain antibiotics. ``We are setting extremely high standards from the start. The two requests did not meet those standards,'' Hosbach said. The BUWAL statement said the ruling also sought to protect the image of Swiss products. Copyright 1999 Reuters Limited. ------------------ INTERVIEW-Burger King Portugal Franchisee Bans GMOs LISBON, April 7 (Reuters) - Burger King's franchisee in Portugal has banned genetically modified (GM) ingredients at its fast-food outlets because it was concerned over possible health risks, a spokesman said on Wednesday. "We do not accept any genetically modified ingredients in any of the foods or components that we sell, including ketchups, oils and mayonnaise," Jorge Morgado told Reuters. Copyright 1998 Reuters Limited. ------------------ The Associated Press State & Local Wire April 14, 1999, Wednesday, AM cycle Corn Processors Ban Certain Types of Genetically Modified Corn The controversy surrounding genetically modified products in Europe is moving closer to home - or at least the American farm. Archer Daniels Midland Co. and A.E. Staley Manufacturing Co. - two of the world's largest corn processors - announced this week that they will reject any genetically modified corn that is not accepted in European markets. Staley sent a letter to local grain elevators Monday to inform operators of its partial ban on genetic crops, and ADM followed suit the next day with a formal statement, the (Decatur) Herald & Review reported Wednesday. ------------------ Identity Preservation: A Feasible Solution to the GMO Conflict Growing skepticism of GM-derived foods is creating unease for consumer and farmer alike. Consumers want to be assured about the origins of their food, and farmers are questioning whether they can bear the expense of providing that assurance. As the debate between the biotech industry and the European consumer continues to intensify, both facets of the marketplace, producer and consumer, are given to asking themselves the same question - is an equitable solution possible? According to one researcher at Wye College in London, the answer is a qualified, yes. Allan Buckwell, agricultural economist and author of a recently published report, "Economics of Identity Preservation for Genetically Modified Crops", concluded that Identity Preservation (IP) offers a partial solution to the conflict between producers and consumers, with benefits to both parties, as long as consumers are willing to pay the added cost. The study analyzed the cost of separating GM from non-GM crops from 'plow to plate', and allowed Buckwell to formulate a number of important conclusions on the feasibility of extending the IP technology to bioengineered food and food products. ...The increased cost of segregating GM products is estimated to range between 5-15% of the usual farm gate price, but only for products that provide enhanced benefit to the consumer, such as a tastier tomato or an altered oil profile in soybeans. ...if processors, in response to perceived consumer demands, insist on guaranteeing a 100% GM-free product...IP could well increase the cost of raw materials by 150%. Source This article was drawn from a Press Release issued by the Food Biotech Communication Initiative (FBCI), "Unique study on Segregation of GMOs and Non-GMOs shows 'Identity Preservation' is feasible and already being applied but inevitably involves extra costs". February 12, 1999. Ruth Irwin
------------------ INDEPENDENT (London ) April 4 Emergency Planning to Cope with GM Bio-disasters By Marie Woolf, Political Correspondent EUROPEAN governments are drawing up contingency plans for a nuclear fallout-style emergency involving genetically modified organisms. A five-point Emergency Response Plan has been formulated by the European Commission, designed to cope if genetically modified plants result in widespread illness or the death of wildlife. The draft directive, set to be adopted by ministers across Europe, includes plans to "decontaminate" affected areas and destroy plants and animals exposed to GMOs. The plan is designed to prevent a human health disaster and stop genetically modified plants breeding wildly with native species The proposed five-point plans are similar to those used in the case of accidental nuclear leaks and will be a requirement of any new application to release genetically modified organisms once the law comes into force. So a company wishing to plant GM seeds in Britain will have to present a detailed strategy for coping with a disaster. This must include: 1. Methods and procedures for controlling the GMOs in case of unexpected spread; 2. Methods for decontamination of the areas affected, e.g. eradication of the GMOs; 3. Methods for disposal or sanitation of plants, animals, soils, etc. that were exposed during or after the spread; 4. Methods for the isolation of the area affected by the spread; 5. Plans for protecting human health and the environment in case of the occurrence of an undesirable effect. ------------------ http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_308000/308774.stm Thursday, April 1, 1999 Published at 00:48 GMT 01:48 UK Sci/Tech Modified genes that stay put By Environment Correspondent Alex Kirby Two scientists believe that they may have identified a way to allay some of the anxieties of campaigners against genetically-modified organisms (GMOs). The scientists, whose work is reported in the current issue of Nature Biotechnology, are Susan Scott and Dr Mike Wilkinson, of Reading University. After a three-year field study they conclude that a new type of genetically-engineered crop will be very unlikely to transfer its modified genes to wild relatives... The authors believe that their findings suggest that chloroplast genetic engineering "has a good chance of containing transgenes under field conditions, at least for oilseed rape". ------------------ In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is compiled for educational use only. |
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