[asia-apec 1719] Action Alert! FDA Fails To Require Labeling of GE Foods

[Anuradha Mittal]

Action Alert! FDA Fails To Require Labeling of GE Foods

Last week, in the final days of the Clinton administration, the FDA 
submitted its long awaited policy on genetically engineered foods.  The 
policy, which was originally proposed in May of 2000, will not require 
labeling of genetically engineered food, nor will it require mandatory 
pre-market safety testing of genetically engineered products.  Instead, 
the FDA encouraged voluntary labeling of biotech products, requiring 
only that biotech food producers engage in "consultations" with the FDA 
in which they submit information on their products.   The information 
must be submitted to the FDA within 120 days of marketing, and will be 
made available to the public.

"This is a major disappointment for consumers, farmers and 
environmentalists who were hoping that our regulatory agencies would 
finally take a real stand," said Dr. Peter Rosset, Co-director of Food 
First/The Institute for Food and Development Policy, based in Oakland, 
CA.

"Despite a PR offensive claiming that government regulators are finally 
taking GE foods seriously, closer examination reveals this to be a 
hollow claim," said Rosset. "These rules, if they can be called that, 
are not nearly as tough as those for food additives. In reality the FDA 
is providing industry with a thinly disguised whitewash."

The FDA's new rules ignore not only the concerns of environmental, 
family farm and consumer groups, but also overlook the recommendations 
made by the Biotechnology Consultative Forum.  In a report released in 
December of 2000, the BCF, an international panel of experts who 
represent both sides of the biotech debate, advised the Clinton 
administration to require mandatory labeling of GE foods in order to 
protect consumers' right to informed choices about what they eat.

"The proposed rules appear to provide a security blanket to the biotech 
industry at the expense of public health, the environment, and the few 
businesses that choose not to use GE foods," said Ms. Anuradha Mittal, 
also Co Director at Food First. Companies that label their foods as 
GE-free must bear the cost of labeling, and must verify their claims 
through chain of custody documentation, test results, or be certified 
organic, while who do use GE ingredients face no such hurdles.

"It is critical that informed citizens make their voices heard at the 
FDA," said Ms. Mittal.  "In the past we reversed poor organic standards 
from the USDA," she added.  "Now it is time to let the FDA know what we 
think," she said, in reference to the highly successful letter writing 
campaign during the USDA public comment period which reversed that 
agency's position.


Take Action!

The FDA is allowing for an open commentary period until April 3, 2001. 
Write to FDA Commissioner Jane Henney and tell her that the new policy 
is insufficient.  Tell her you are disappointed that the FDA continues 
to ignore the safety concerns of consumers and chooses instead to help 
the companies developing biotech products.  Demand that she change the 
policy on GMO food to one that protects the rights of the consumer.  A 
sample letter follows.

Send your e-mails to fdadockets at oc.fda.gov, subject re: dockets . 
00N-1396 and 00D-1598, or write to:

FDA Commissioner Jane Henney Dockets Management Branch (HFA 305) Food 
and Drug Administration 5630 Fisher‚s Lane, rm. 1061 Rockville MD 20852

For the full text of the FDA rules, visit: 
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/oc/ohrms/advdisplay.cfm

For more information about issues surrounding biotechnology, see Food 
First's website at: http://www.foodfirst.org/progs/global/biotech

Sample Letter:

Dear Commissioner Henney,

The proposed Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations fail to 
require labels or safety tests on genetically engineered (GE) food. The 
new rules continue to deny Americans the right to know what is in our 
food, while protecting the economic interests of biotech corporations.

Labeling GE foods would protect the public from potential health effects 
that could only be traced if GE foods can be identified. By refusing to 
require both labeling and mandatory safety testing of foods, the FDA 
puts consumer's health at risk, and ignores the recommendations of the 
Biotechnology Consultative Forum, who in December urged the US to 
require mandatory labeling of GE foods.

I urge you to reconsider this proposal and insure that GE foods are 
subject to pre-market testing and labeling.  Americans have a right to 
make informed decisions about the food we consume.

Sincerely,

Join the fight against hunger. For more information contact foodfirst at foodfirst.org.

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