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NEW FDA POLICY FAILS TO REQUIRE TESTING OR
LABELING OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOOD
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE -- January 17, 2001.
Contact:
Amanda Gordon (202) 887-8831
Matt Rand (202) 887-8841
In 'eleventh hour' move, FDA releases inadequate
policy that makes American consumers guinea pigs for safety testing
of genetically engineered food
Washington, DC - Today, in the final days of
the current administration, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
submitted their long overdue, controversial policy on genetically
engineered foods. This is the same policy that has come under fire
from consumer, environmental and farm groups since it was first
proposed in May, 2000. The rules will not require labeling of genetically
engineered foods nor require mandatory pre-market safety testing;
the two provisions food safety advocates have been lobbying for.
"This policy means that the FDA will not
require any mandatory testing on genetically engineered food," said
Andrew Kimbrell, Executive Director of the Center for Food Safety
and member of the Genetically Engineered Food Alert coalition. "Under
these rules, American consumers will still be the guinea pigs testing
the safety of these foods. Voluntary labeling means consumers won't
see any labels out of this, and won't have a right to choose."
The FDA has decided to move forward with their
controversial and criticized rules despite this fall's debacle and
embarrassment in the federal regulatory system over Starlinkô corn.
StarLinkô genetically engineered corn, which is not meant for human
consumption, was discovered by the Genetically Engineered Food Alert
in tacos shells and other corn products on grocery store shelves.
The Starlinkô debacle prompted over three hundred food product recalls,
causing millions of dollars in losses to food processors, grain
mills and farmers across the country.
"With its new policy, the FDA is giving
consumers a false sense of security - the sense that the government
is providing a safeguard when this is really not the case," said
Philip Clapp, President of the National Environmental Trust. "This
policy is geared towards protecting industry, not consumers."
Voluntary Labeling Means that Consumers Will
be Deprived of the Right to Choose
The FDA's new policy also rejects mandatory
labeling of genetically engineered foods. Instead the agency has
created a "GE Free" voluntary labeling scheme which violates the
right of American consumers to know which foods have been genetically
engineered.
"Under the new FDA policy not a single
producer of genetically engineered foods will have to reveal that
their product is genetically engineered," said Richard Caplan, Environmental
Advocate at the State Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs).
FDA's new voluntary labeling idea would punish
those not using the technology by putting the burden on them to
certify, test and label their foods as "GE Free." Many companies
will not want to undergo the considerable time, expense and liability
of testing, certifying and labeling their foods as "GE Free."
"FDA's new voluntary labeling policy serves
the interests of a few biotechnology companies at the expense of
the rest of the food industry and millions of consumers," said Caplan.
Consultation Is Not Testing
As part of the proposed guidelines, FDA announced
today that it will not require mandatory pre-market safety testing
of genetically engineered foods, but rather engage in "consultations"
with food producers. While consultations are mandatory, safety testing
is still voluntary.
"Mandatory consultations" have no legal
meaning. To ensure safety, the alteration of food involved in genetic
engineering - the addition of new genes, bacterial vectors, viral
promoters, and anti-biotic marker systems - should go through the
rigorous safety and toxicological tests required of all "food additives."
Rules should include new testing for such things as unknown allergens,
novel toxins and changes in nutritional content. To date, the FDA
has refused to require this food additive testing for genetically
engineered foods.
US - EU Panel Calls for Mandatory Labeling of
Genetically Engineered Food
FDA's policy ignores the recommendations of
the Biotechnology Consultative Forum, and international panel of
experts, representing both sides of the biotechnology argument.
In a report released on December 18, 2000, the
Biotechnology Consultative Forum, recommended to the Clinton Administration
that genetically engineered food be more strictly regulated in the
United States. The panel called for mandatory labeling of genetically
engineered food in order to protect consumers' right to informed
choice about what they eat.
American Consumers Overwhelmingly Support Labeling
GE Foods
Most Americans support labeling. A Harris Poll
conducted this summer showed that 86 percent of Americans believe
the government "should require the labeling of all packaged and
other food products stating they include corn, soy or other products
which have come from genetically modified crops."
Petition for Real Safety Rules Ignored by FDA
On March 21, 2000, the Center for Food Safety
and 50 other environmental and consumer safety groups filed a legal
petition with the FDA demanding the development of a thorough pre-market
and environmental testing regime and mandatory labeling for genetically
engineered foods. The petition provided FDA with a blueprint for
developing a mandatory pre-market safety regime based upon the legal
requirements of the Food Additive petition process.
The petition specifies what steps must be taken
to ensure public confidence in the FDA's authority over genetically
engineered foods, including specific tests for allergenicity, toxicity,
and unintended effects, and institution of mandatory labeling for
genetically engineered foods.
About GE Food Alert and GEFoodAlert.Org
Genetically Engineered Food Alert founding members
include: Center for Food Safety, Friends of the Earth, Institute
for Agriculture and Trade Policy, National Environmental Trust,
Organic Consumers Association, Pesticide Action Network North America,
and the State Public Interest Research Groups.
Genetically Engineered Food Alert believes that
genetically engineered food or food ingredients should not be allowed
on the market until they are adequately safety tested and labeled.
The campaign provides web-based opportunities for individuals to
express concern about genetically engineered food and fact sheets
on health, environmental and economic information about genetically
engineered food. The campaign is endorsed by more than 250 scientists,
religious leaders, doctors, chefs, environmental and health leaders,
as well as farm groups.
The full text of the FDA Policy is available
at
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/oc/ohrms/advdisplay.cfm
Background information on genetically engineered
food and GE Food Alert is available on web at http://www.gefoodalert.org
source: http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/inthenews/FDApol.html
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