--- Say No To GMOs <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> From: "Say No To GMOs" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: "Say No To GMOs" <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Fw: Labeling Legislation Coming Next Week!!
> Date: Fri, 17 May 2002 09:04:52 -0500
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "News Update from The Campaign"
> <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, May 17, 2002 5:51 AM
> Subject: Labeling Legislation Coming Next Week!!
>
>
> News Update From The Campaign to Label Genetically
> Engineered Foods
>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Dear Health Freedom Fighters,
>
> Excellent news! Next Wednesday, May 22, "The
> Genetically Engineered Food
> Right To Know Act of 2002" will be introduced into
> the U.S. Congress.
> When passed into law, this legislation will require
> the mandatory
> labeling of genetically engineered foods.
>
> Along with the labeling legislation, four other
> bills related to
> genetically engineered foods will be introduced.
> They are:
>
> * The Genetically Engineered Food Safety Act of 2002
>
> * The Genetically Engineered Crop and Animal Farmer
> Protection Act of
> 2002
> * The Genetically Engineered Organism Liability Act
> of 2002
> * Real Solutions to World Hunger Act of 2002
>
> These bills will be introduced into the House of
> Representatives by Ohio
> Representative Dennis Kucinich and in the Senate by
> California Senator
> Barbara Boxer.
>
> Representative Kucinich has provided us with a
> detailed summary of the
> five pieces of legislation that we have posted
> below.
>
> ACTION ALERT!
>
> The Campaign has set up a web page where you can
> send an e-mail to your
> House Representative and your two Senators asking
> them to co-sponsor the
> legislation. Normally we would prefer you send
> letters by U.S. mail to
> members of Congress since they are much more
> effective. But since we
> only have a few days until the legislation is
> introduced, e-mails will
> be fine for this occasion:
> http://www.thecampaign.org/cosponsor.htm
>
> IMPORTANT NOTICE:
>
> The Campaign's new Internet server developed a major
> technical problem
> on Tuesday afternoon. Our e-mail server went down
> first and then the web
> server was effected. So we switched over to our
> backup server on
> Thursday. The server administrator we use has been
> on vacation in
> Europe, so we are still trying to determine what
> caused the service
> outage. Since it is a brand new server, it could be
> a hard drive
> problem. Regardless, we have taken care of the
> immediate problem.
>
> Most of you should now be able to view our web site
> again and send us
> e-mail. But if you visit our web site and it is
> still down, please visit
> later in the day on Friday since it will soon be up
> again all over the
> world. If any of you sent us e-mail on Tuesday or
> Wednesday, there is a
> possibility we never received it, so please send it
> again.
>
> We are sorry for any inconvenience this technical
> problem may have
> caused. But, as you know, anything high-tech can
> develop problems --
> which is another reason why we should be concerned
> about possible
> problems developing with genetically engineered
> foods!
>
> TAKE ACTION PACKET SALE ENDS SOON!
>
> As we previously announced, The Campaign's popular
> Take Action Packets
> are on sale for 20% off ONLY until The Genetically
> Engineered Food Right
> To Know Act gets introduced into Congress. So you
> only have until
> Wednesday evening, May 22 to take advantage of the
> 20% off sale price.
> http://www.thecampaign.org/tap.htm
>
> If you are sincere in your desire to help get The
> Genetically Engineered
> Food Right To Know Act passed into law, The
> Campaign's Take Action
> Packets are the best tool available for this
> purpose. Each full color
> 32-page Take Action Packet contain a wealth of
> educational information
> and form letters to mail to members of Congress.
>
> You can order any quantity of Take Action Packets
> and receive the 20%
> discount. However, you must place your order over
> our web site to be
> eligible for the sale. Order today to take advantage
> of the special
> prices. Remember, you only have until May 22 to be
> eligible to receive
> the 20% discount:
> http://www.thecampaign.org/tap.htm
>
> In closing, I would just like to encourage you to
> tell everyone you know
> about The Genetically Engineered Food Right To Know
> Act. It is only by
> grassroots activism that we will get this
> legislation passed into law.
> Take these two steps today:
>
> 1) Send an e-mail to your members of Congress:
> http://www.thecampaign.org/cosponsor.htm
>
> 2) Order Take Action Packets:
> http://www.thecampaign.org/tap.htm
>
> Thanks for your activism!
>
> Craig Winters
> Executive Director
> The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods
>
> The Campaign
> PO Box 55699
> Seattle, WA 98155
> Tel: 425-771-4049
> Fax: 603-825-5841
> E-mail: mailto:[log in to unmask]
> Web Site: http://www.thecampaign.org
>
> Mission Statement: "To create a national grassroots
> consumer campaign
> for the purpose of lobbying Congress and the
> President to pass
> legislation that will require the labeling of
> genetically engineered
> foods in the United States."
>
>
***************************************************************
>
>
> Summary of Genetically Engineered Food Legislation
>
> Genetic engineering, the ability to insert a novel
> gene in a organism,
> is a developing science that offers possible
> benefits and hazards.
> Genetic engineering is defined as something that has
> been altered at the
> molecular or cellular level by means that are not
> possible under natural
> conditions or processes. This does not include
> traditional breeding
> techniques. Genetic engineering is a powerful
> technology. The ability to
> insert any gene into any organism breaks scientific
> barriers and creates
> new ethical quandaries.
>
> Genetic engineering is having a serious impact on
> the food we eat, on
> the environment, and on farmers. To ensure we can
> maximize benefits and
> minimize hazards, Congress must provide a
> comprehensive regulatory
> framework for all genetically engineered products
> (plants, animals,
> bacteria, and other organisms).
>
> Current laws, such as our food safety and
> environmental laws, were not
> written with this technology in mind. These laws
> were not structured to
> deal with a new paradigm created by the novel
> scientific capabilities
> made available by genetic engineering. Therefore
> clearer laws are
> necessary to ensure that these new scientific
> capabilities and the
> associated impacts are closely monitored.
>
> I: The Genetically Engineered Food Right To Know Act
> of 2002
>
> Consumers wish to know whether the food they
> purchase and consume is a
> genetically engineered food. Concerns include the
> potential transfer of
> allergens into food and other health risks,
> potential environmental
> risks associated with the genetic engineering of
> crops, and religiously
> and ethically based dietary restrictions. Consumers
> have a right to know
> whether the food they purchase contains or was
> produced with genetically
> engineered material. There is also a strong
> scientific rationale for
> mandatory labeling. It provides an opportunity for
> continual postmarket
> monitoring, allowing for the study of long-term
> health impacts. Adoption
> and implementation of mandatory labeling
> requirements for genetically
> engineered food produced in the United States would
> facilitate
> international trade. It would allow American farmers
> and companies to
> export and appropriately market their products-both
> genetically
> engineered and non-genetically engineered- to
> foreign customers.
>
> This bill acknowledges consumers have a right to
> know what genetically
> engineered foods they are eating:
>
> 1.  Requires food companies to label all foods that
> contain or are
> produced with genetically engineered material.
>
> 2.  Requires the FDA to periodically test products
> to ensure compliance.
> (A threshold of 1% is established for accidental
> contamination.)
>
> 3.  Voluntary, non-GE food labels are authorized.
>
> 4.  A legal framework is established to ensure the
> accuracy of labeling
> without creating significant economic hardship on
> the food production
> system.
>
>
> II: The Genetically Engineered Food Safety Act of
> 2002
>
> Genetically engineered foods present new issues of
> food safety. Given
> the consensus among the scientific community that
> genetic engineering
> can potentially introduce hazards, such as allergens
> or toxins,
> genetically engineered foods need to be evaluated on
> a case-by-case
> basis and cannot be presumed to be generally
> recognized as safe. The
> possibility of such hazards dictate a cautious
> approach to genetically
> engineered food approvals. However, FDA has glossed
> over the food safety
> concerns of genetically engineered foods and not
> taken steps to ensure
> the safety of these genetically engineered foods.
>
> This bill requires that all genetically engineered
> foods follow a
> strenuous food safety review process:
>
> 1.  Requires all genetically engineered foods to
> follow FDA's current
> food additive process to ensure they are safe for
> human consumption.
>
> 2.  Requires that unique concerns of genetically
> engineered foods are
> explicitly examined in the review process, a phase
> out of antibiotic
> resistance markers, and a prohibition on known
> allergens.
>
> 3.  Continues FDA discretion in the food additive
> process in applying
> the safety factors that are generally recognized as
> appropriate.
>
> 4.  Requires the FDA to conduct a public comment
> period of at least 30
> days once the completed safety application is
> available to the public.
>
> 5.  The FDA is authorized to contract out for
> independent testing of a
> genetically engineered food and to seek input on the
> food safety process
> from the National Academy's Institute of Medicine.
>
>
> III: The Genetically Engineered Crop and Animal
> Farmer Protection Act of
> 2002
>
> Agribusiness and biotechnology companies have
> rapidly consolidated
> market power at the same time as the average
> farmer's profits and
> viability have significantly declined. Policies
> promoted by biotech
> corporations have systematically acted to remove
> basic farmer rights
> enjoyed since the beginning of agriculture. These
> policies include
> unreasonable seed contracts and the intrusion into
> everyday farm
> operations. The introduction of genetically
> engineered crops has also
> created obstacles for farmers, including the loss of
> markets and
> increased liability concerns. To mitigate the abuses
> upon farmers, a
> clear set of farmer rights must be established.
>
> Farmer Bill of Rights
>
> This bill provides several farmer rights and
> protections to maintain the
> opportunity to farm:
>
> 1.  Farmers may save seeds and seek compensation
> from biotech companies
> for failed genetically engineered crops.
>
> 2.  Biotech companies may not shift liability to
> farmers, nor require
> access to farmer's property, nor mandate
> arbitration, nor mandate court
> of jurisdiction, nor require damages beyond actual
> fees, or any other
> unfair condition.
>
> 3.  Farmers must be informed of the risks of using
> genetically
> engineered crops.
>
> 4.  Biotech companies may not charge more to
> American farmers for use of
> this technology, than they charge farmers in other
> nations.
>
> 5.  Seed companies must ensure seeds labeled non-GE
> are accurate and
> provide clear instructions to reduce cross
> pollination, which
> contaminates other fields.
>
> 6.  The EPA is required to evaluate the concern of
> Bt resistant pests
> and take actions necessary to prevent resistance to
> Bt, an important
> organic pesticide.
>
> 7.  The bill prohibits genetic engineering designed
> to produce sterile
> seeds.
>
> 8.  The bill prohibits loan discrimination based on
> the choice of seeds
> an agricultural producer uses.
>
>
> IV: The Genetically Engineered Organism Liability
> Act of 2002
>
> The negative consequences of genetically engineered
> crops may impact
> farmers who grow these crops, neighboring farmers
> who do not grow these
> crops, as well as consumers. Biotech companies are
> selling a technology
> that is being commercialized far in advance of the
> new and unknown
> science of genetic engineering. Farmers may suffer
> from crop failures,
> neighboring farmers may suffer from cross
> pollination, increased insect
> resistance, and unwanted "volunteer" genetically
> engineered plants, and
> consumers may suffer from health and environmental
> impacts. Therefore,
> biotech companies should be found liable for the
> failures of genetically
> engineered crops.
>
> This bill ensures that the creator of the technology
> assumes the
> liability resulting from the technology.
>
> 1.  The bill places all liability from negative
> impacts of genetically
> engineered organisms squarely upon the biotechnology
> companies that
> created the genetically engineered organism.
>
> 2.  Farmers are granted indemnification to protect
> them from the
> liabilities of biotech companies.
>
> 3.  The bill prohibits any transfer of liability
> away from the
> biotechnology companies that created the genetically
> engineered
> organism.
>
>
> V: Real Solutions to World Hunger Act of 2002
>
> The demand for mandatory labeling, safety testing,
> and farmer
> protections do not constitute obstacles to the
> cessation of world
> hunger. Technologies, like genetically engineered
> food, may have a
> limited role, but economics remain the significant
> barrier to a
> consistent food supply, and the development of
> expensive genetically
> engineered foods may only exacerbate this trend.
> Most genetically
> engineered food products and almost all research
> funding for the
> development of genetically engineered food target
> the developed nation's
> agriculture and consumers. Developing countries
> cannot afford this
> technology and therefore are vastly ignored.
>
> Agroecological interventions have had significantly
> more success in
> helping developing nations feed themselves with
> higher yields and
> improved environmental practices, all within
> reasonable costs for
> developing countries. If the biotech industry
> believes they can help
> mitigate hunger concerns, domestic or foreign, then
> requiring them to
> fund the effort to mitigate hunger is appropriate.
>
> This bill offers several new initiatives and
> protections to help
> developing nations resolve their hunger concerns:
>
> 1.  To protect developing nations, genetically
> engineered exports are
> restricted to those already approved in the U.S. and
> approved by the
> importing nation.
>
> 2.  The bill creates an international research fund
> for sustainable
> agriculture research.
>
> 3.  A developing nation may choose to mandatorily
> license a genetically
> engineered crop for the benefit of its citizens. The
> bill prohibits any
> U.S. intervention that may block the mandatory
> license.
>
> 4.  The bill establishes the Sustainable Agriculture
> Trust Fund with a
> small tax on biotechnology company profits. This
> trust fund will fund
> the activities in this bill.
>
> For more information on this bills, please contact
> the office of
> Representative Dennis Kucinich at (202) 225-5871.
>
>
>


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