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 [log in to unmask], 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
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