[asia-apec 1102] PAN AP Press Release: Protests Over rBGH Use in New Zealand

[PAN Asia Pacific]

Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Asia and the Pacific

Press Release

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Protests Over rBGH Use in New Zealand

Activists Pledge to Take Action!


The Steering Council (board) members of the Pesticide Action Network
Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP) discussed the application to the New
Zealand government for the use of rBGH (recombinant Bovine Growth
Hormone) in the Dairy Industry, at a recent meeting in Malaysia.

Members from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, Korea and
India representing networks of consumers, women's and environmental
organizations across the region, strongly oppose the use of this
growth hormone due to associated health effects - including breast
and prostate cancer. 

"In the case of rBGH, the links to cancer, and other human health
and safety concerns demands added vigilance.  People have the right
to know that they could be seriously jeopardizing their health, and
that of their children", commented Anwar Fazal, PAN AP Steering
Council Member, and Chairperson for the World Alliance for
Breastfeeding Action (WABA). 

Since New Zealand dairy products are commonly sold and consumed in
many of these countries, the organizations have pledged to organize
actions - including boycotts of New Zealand dairy products - should
the registration proceed. 

Currently, the application has been sent to the Animal Welfare
Committee to identify any possible implications for animal
welfare.  Their report will be considered by the Animal Remedies
Board (who registers animal remedies) on June 4th, 1999.  A
decision will be made on the basis of this report and on trade
issues.  The latter are likely to be the deciding factor. 


The Problem

In many countries, New Zealand dairy products are marketed as "clean
and green".  The use of rBGH is not consistent with this "clean and
green" image. 

rBGH is injected into cows to extend their period of lactation by
several weeks, and thus to force them to produce more milk.  Dairy
cows injected with rBGH have been found to produce milk containing
elevated levels of IGF-1.  The IGF-1 in milk can pass into the
blood stream of milk consumers.  As reported in the LANCET (May,
1998) and SCIENCE (January, 1998), elevated levels of IGF-1 have
been linked to increased incidence of breast cancer and prostate
cancer in the U.S. 

In 1998, the use of rBGH was challenged in Canada.  A secret study
by senior Health Canada scientists concluded that important gaps in
scientific procedures and data have left legitimate human health
concerns about the Bovine Growth Hormone unresolved despite the
drug's approval by the U.S. FDA.  These scientists had charged that
the original study, on which the U.S. FDA had based its approval of
rBGH in 1993, was false. 

The Globe and Mail, Canada, on September 17 reported, the scientists
had "been told they will be disciplined if they speak to the media",
by Blair Stannard, vice-president of their union.  "There is
political and financial pressure to approve the drug despite the
concerns of the scientists involved," Mr. Stannard said.


Putting Trade and Politics Above Safe Food and People's Health?

In the case of New Zealand, "trade issues are likely to be very
contentious," states Meriel Watts, Vice President of the New
Zealand Soil and Health Association.  "On the one hand, the New
Zealand government will have to take into account Asian people's
concerns about rBGH, and therefore threats to New Zealand's Asian
markets.  On the other hand, there may well be the threat of trade
sanctions by the U.S. if New Zealand does not register it." 

"Last week, the U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand, Josiah Beeman,
appeared on national television and warned that if New Zealand
tried to label genetically engineered food, trade sanctions might
follow", Watts explained. 

This is no doubt in response to the decision by Health Ministers on
December 17, 1998 to move towards the labelling of genetically
engineered (GE) foods in Australia and New Zealand.  At the
Australia New Zealand Food Standards Council (ANZFSC) meeting in
Canberra, the Health Ministers asked ANZFA (the Australia NZ Food
Authority) to require labelling of genetically modified food. 
ANZFC consists of Health Ministers from the Commonwealth, each
state and Territory and the New Zealand Associate Minister for
Health. 

"Although ANZFA has come out in favour of labelling GE food, the New
Zealand government has not committed itself to this decision.  But
the New Zealand public is demanding labelling, a moratorium on the
growing of GE crops and a full Royal Commission of Enquiry.  So far
the New Zealand government has not agreed to any of these things, and
it could be because of fear of offending the U.S.", explains Watts.

"It is deplorable that the U.S. is undermining the New Zealand
peoples call to label GE foods, and their right to know about food
containing genetically modified materials" stated Jennifer Mourin,
PAN AP Safe Food Campaign Coordinator.   "This is not a trade issue
but it is a matter of food safety and people's health.  People have
a right to know if potentially harmful materials are present in
their food, and they have a right to choose not to buy genetically
engineered products", she added. 

Another regional organization, Consumer International Regional
Office for Asia and the Pacific (CI ROAP), have expressed concern
about this issue and will be looking into the matter.

"There is some evidence that cows treated with rBGH have suffered
from increased udder infections (mastitis), severe reproductive
problems, digestive disorders, foot and leg ailments, and
persistent sores and lacerations, and ultimately live a much
shorter life-span.  After 4-5 years of producing extra milk, they
end up as hamburgers.  This is cruelty to cows!" states Dr. K
Balasubramaniam, the Pharmaceutical Adviser of CI ROAP. 

This is surely something the New Zealand Animal Welfare Committee
needs to take into account in their assessment of the drug. 
Additionally, consumers have every right to question the kind of
foods produced from such diseased animals. 


Implications for Asia?

There has been significant trade between many Asian countries and
New Zealand, especially in terms of diary produce.  "Should the
application go through, and rBGH be used by dairy farmers, we will
have to question the safety of dairy products that we buy from New
Zealand" stresses Mourin. 

The decision by the Australia NZ Food Authority to label genetically
modified food would give people in importing countries, like
Malaysia, a chance to know if they were buying genetically modified
food.  "Many countries, like Malaysia, that do not have labelling
requirements, will be allowing in genetically modified food products
and materials - and consumers will not be able to make a choice on
whether to buy or not.  This was exactly the case with Roundup Ready
Soyabeans", adds Mourin. 


Groups Take Action

Concern for the health risks of rBGH has prompted action from a
growing number of groups in several Asian countries.  After being
informed of this issue by PAN AP, the Malaysian Vegetarian Society
(MVS) and ERA Consumer based in Malaysia were among the first
groups to send their letters of concern to the New Zealand Minister
of Food and Fibre, John Luxton, as well as Sarah Dennis, the New
Zealand High Commissioner. 

ERA Consumer is the national coordinator on Food Security in
Malaysia, and the vice Chair of the Southeast Asia Food Security
and Fair Trade Council, composed of key NGO personages from
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and
Vietnam. 

Other groups from countries including India, Korea, Japan and the
Philippines are also primed to take action.  


For further information contact:  

Jennifer Mourin, Safe Food Campaign Coordinator, at PAN AP.   
Tel: (604) 657 0271/656 0381.  Fax: (604) 657 7445  
E-Mail: panap at panap.po.my 

Meriel Watts, Vice President, Soil and Health Association, Auckland,
New Zealand. E-Mail:  m.watts at auckland.ac.nz

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The PAN AP Steering Council members include:

Ms. Sarojeni V. Rengam   

- Executive Director, PAN Asia Pacific, Malaysia
- Board Member of, 
Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI), Canada;
SoutheastAsian Regional Institute for Community Education (SEARICE),
Philippines; 
Asian Regional Exchange for New Alternatives (ARENA), Hong Kong;
International Babyfood Action Network (IBFAN), Malaysia 

Mr. Anwar Fazal 

- Chairperson, World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, Malaysia

Ms. Irene Fernandez     

- Director, Tenaganita (Women's Force), Malaysia
- Chairperson, CARAM - ASIA
- Director, People's Legal Resources, Malaysia
- Executive Council Member, Parti Keadilan Nasional (National
Justice Party), Malaysia 

Mr. Bishan Singh        

- President, Sustainable Development Network (SUSDEN), Malaysia

Mr. Riza Tjahjadi       

- Coordinator, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Indonesia
- Council Member, SEA FS & FT, Indonesia

Dr. Romeo Quijano       

- President, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Philippines
- Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, University of the 
Philippines, College of Medicine, The Philippines

Mr. Rene Salazar        

- Chairperson, Committee Biodiversity Development and Conservation
Programme, 
Philippines - Member of the Board, RAFI, Canada, and SEARICE,
Philippines 

Ms. Mika Iba    

- Director, Network for Safe & Secure Food and Environment, Japan
- Member, Consumer Union of Japan, and the International Forum on 
Food and Agriculture

Ms. Kim Jai Ok  

- Executive Director, Citizens Alliance for Consumer Protection of
Korea (CACPK), Korea 
- Chair, Korea NGO - GO Environment Policy Committee, Ministry of the 
Environment, Korea
- Lecturer, University of Duksung, Seoul, Korea  

Dr. Daisy Dharmaraj - Director, PREPARE, India

- Secretary, Coalition for Protection of Rights of Women and
Children 
- Member, International Advisory Committee, Women's Global
Network for Reproductive Rights 

Ms. Meriel Watts        

- Vice-President, Soil and Health Association of New Zealand


Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Asia and the Pacific  P.O. Box: 1170,
10850 Penang, Malaysia.  Tel: (604) 657 0271/656 0381.  Fax: (604)
657 7445 E-Mail: panap at panap.po.my
Homepage: www.poptel.org.uk/panap/ 


Pesticide Action Network (PAN) is an international coalition of
citizen's groups and individuals who oppose the misuse and overuse
of pesticides, and support the reliance on safe and sustainable
alternatives. 

PAN Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP) is the regional office  for Asia
and the Pacific.  PAN AP prescribes to the following development
principles:  a participatory holistic approach; a commitment to
gender equity and genuine partnership; the need to confront social
injustice and global inequities; the value of biodiversity,
appropriate traditional and indigenous knowledge systems; and the
recognition that our earth is one interdependent living system. 


PAN AP is especially committed to protect the safety and health of
people, and the environment, from pesticides use.  As part of our
commitment, PAN AP coordinates the Safe Food Campaign.  The
Campaign emphasizes locally grown, seasonal, food through healthy
and sustainable land use, and agriculture.  It also calls for the
production of food free from pesticides, antibiotics, and
hormones.  We support community-based food production that will
protect the health, livelihoods and communities of rural,
indigenous peoples, in agriculture - in particular women. 

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More Information on the Bovine Growth Hormone

When the drug was first introduced for use in the U.S. in 1993, even
the country's Food and Drug Administration admitted that cows
injected with rBGH could suffer from increased udder infections
(mastitis), severe reproductive problems, digestive disorders, foot
and leg ailments, and persistent sores and lacerations.  FDA has
also admitted that the use of rBGH in cows may lead to increased
amounts of pus and bacteria in milk. 

Equally disturbing, the powerful antibiotics and other drugs used to
fight increased disease in rBGH-injected cows may lead to greater
antibiotic and chemical contamination of milk, and dangerous
resistance to antibiotics in the human population. 

Further the U.S. FDA has released studies showing that milk from
rBGH-treated cows could have more saturated fat and less protein
that regular milk. 

Both the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) and the Consumer's
Union, publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, have warned of the
potential hazards to human health caused by consuming products
derived from rBGH-treated cows. 

Because rBGH injections can cause numerous ill effects in cows,
veterinarians in Germany have refused to administer rBGH to cows on
grounds that it violates their professional code of ethics, which
forbids intentional harm to animals. 

Notwitstanding these concerns, the U.S. FDA went ahead and approved
the use of this drug, concluding officially that milk from these
hormone-treated cows is "safe for human consumption."  

According to a report by the American Broadcasting Corporation,
twice a month, genetically engineered rBGH is injected into 3
million dairy cows in the U.S.  The milk these cows produce is then
shipped throughout the country as milk, cream, cheese and yogurt,
and in baked and other goods.  Products from cows that receive rBGH
are almost never labelled as such. 

Subsequently, a consumer group called the Center for Food Safety
(CFS) has begun legal action to have the hormone pulled off the
market.  CFS is charging that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) has ignored evidence of potential health hazards from
rBGH", 

Sources of information in this Press Release:  

ABC-TV National News Story on rBGH Lawsuit December 12, 1998 also
available via ABC's website: http://www.abcnews.com

"Secret Canadian Govt. Study Reveals Serious Faults with BGH
Research", Steve Wilson; The Globe and Mail, Canada, September 17,
1998; 

"Breast Cancer, rBGH and Milk", RACHEL'S ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH
WEEKLY, #598, May 8, 1998, a service of the Environmental Research
Foundation, Internet: erf at rachel.org. 

Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, Press Release,  April 26, 1999.


See also: 

Rachels's Environment Weekly, http://www.monitor.net/rachel/

Campaign for Food Safety (formerly known as the Pure Food Campaign),
http://www.purefood.org/index.htm

Consumer Union Website,
http://www.consumersunion.org/food/

Natural Food Commission, New Zealand,
http://www.naturallaw.org.nz/genetics/ 

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Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand

                                        Press Release
26 April 1999


Dairy Markets Threatened by GE Growth Hormone


Food Minister John Luxton's cavalier approach to genetically
engineered bovine growth hormone is already risking our Asian
export markets, Green Party Co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said
today. 

Leaders of a range of citizen movements in Malaysia, the
Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Korea and India who are part of the
Asia and Pacific Pesticide Action Network (PAN) have pledged in a
statement to boycott New Zealand dairy products if the use of rBGH
(recombinant bovine growth hormone) is approved for use on our
dairy cows. 

Late last month Ms Fitzsimons obtained information via a
Parliamentary question that there were two applications for
registration of this hormone currently before the Animal Remedies
Board.  The papers also showed that the Animal Welfare Advisory
Committee would be consulted, but that there would be no process
for checking human health effects. 

Ms Fitzsimons raised the issue because international studies have
shown that in addition to adverse health effects on the cattle,
including much greater incidence of mastitis, painful lameness,
sores and shorter lifespans, drinking the milk was linked with
higher rates of prostate and breast cancer in humans. 

John Luxton responded by calling the Green Party "factually
modified" and "alarmist" and said there was nothing to worry
about. 

"This is just another example of how our markets want clean green
food. If we specialise in supplying that it will provide an
economic bonus for the whole country. I find it hard to understand
that a Minister of Food is prepared to undermine our food trade
with Asia," Ms Fitzsimons said. 


Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand > Green Library > Press Releases

Jeanette Fitzsimmons, Green Party Co-Leader
Tel:  00 64 - 4 - 470 6665
Fax:  00 64 - 4 - 499 2606
E-Mail:  Ruth.Quirk at parliament.govt..nz