In
This Issue:
CHINA DEVELOPING
INTERIM TRADE ARRANGEMENT
Amidst conflicting reports regarding China's trade regulations
about agricultural biotech products, the US Embassy in China
issued two statements saying that
China is developing an interim arrangement. The purpose of the arrangement
is to reduce trade disruptions, and address specific concerns including approvals,
market access and labeling.
Vice Minister Ma Xiuhong, of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation,
told Ambassador Allen Johnson, Chief Agriculture Negotiator for the Office
of the United States Trade Representative, that a bulletin of the interim arrangement
will come out before March 20, 2002. The biotechnology regulations are set
to come out on that date.
Ambassador Johnson expects that the interim arrangement will allow trade to
continue. The two sides will meet again soon to discuss outstanding technical
issues.
In other developments, US farmers will now be able to resume shipping their
soybean produce to China. Both countries had finally reached an agreement wherein
China has agreed temporarily to recognize US assurances that the GM soybeans
are safe for human consumption, details of which will be made known soon. Also
under the agreement, the Chinese government will continue to recognize US safety
certificates until its new system is up and would cut short the lengthy processing
time of its certificates which could reach up to 270 days.
The US embassy's press releases can be found at http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn
/
press/release/2002/biotech.html and http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/press/release/
2002/johnson0302.html
SOCIETY OF TOXICOLOGY'S POSITION
PAPER
The Society of Toxicology (SOT) whose vision is to be the
leading global force and resource for advancing the science
and application of toxicology has released
a paper regarding the safety of foods produced through biotechnology.
The paper concludes that the potential risks that might
arise from foods produced through biotechnology are similar
to those developed through conventional breeding
and that the changes in composition of biotech product are slight. It states
that "there is no reason to suppose that the process of food production through
biotechnology leads to risks of a different nature than those already familiar
to toxicologists or that cannot also be created by conventional breeding practices."
It is important to recognize, the paper adds, that it is the food product itself,
rather than the process through which it is made, that should be the focus
of attention in assessing safety.
A copy of the paper available at: http://www.toxicology.org/Information/governementmedia/
GMOpaper.doc
CODEX COMMISSION AGREES ON FINAL
DRAFT RE GM FOODS
The Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health
Organization announced that a task force of the Codex Alimentarius
Commission has reached agreement
on a final draft of "Principles for the Risk Analysis of Foods Derived from
Biotechnology."
The Japan-hosted Codex Intergovernmental Task Force on
Foods Derived from Biotechnology provided a framework for
evaluating the safety and nutritional aspects of genetically
modified (GM) foods. They define the need for a pre-market safety assessment
of all such foods on a case-by-case basis. This involves looking into both
intended and unintended effects, identifying new or altered hazards and identifying
changes, relevant to human health, especially in regard to key nutrients and
potential allergenic components.
The task force also adopted detailed requirements for assessing
the safety of GM plants including tests for allergenicity.
The agreement could also mark
a break-through in international negotiations concerning the use of tracing
systems in relation to food in international trade.
The final work of the Task Force will be submitted to the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius
Commission, at its next meeting in July 2003 in Rome, Italy, for adoption.
When available, the text of the adopted report should be
posted at: http://www.codexalimentarius.net/Reports.htm and http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/
OIS/PRESS_NE/english/2002/3060-en.html
GMO LABELING TO DECREASE FOOD SAFETY
Kim Nill, biotechnology and technical issues director for the American Soybean
Association (ASA), has come out with a paper summarizing known and likely future
adverse impacts of the Codex Standard.
Nill states that foods produced before the coming of new
biotechnology had significant risks inherent in their creation
and production while genetically
modified (GM) crops actually increased food safety. For example Bt corn has
been shown to reduce pesticide use and the production of mycotoxins in the
field. Similarly, new biotech herbicide-resistant crops allow far more effective
control of weeds.
The ASA director notes that "while the coming "value added" biotech crops should
be labeled because they will differ in composition or nutrition from conventional
commodities, mandatory labeling of substantially equivalent biotech crops has
already been shown to cause reduction in the consumption of current biotech
crops which are substantially equivalent." He adds that many food retailers
and food product manufacturers have reduced their inclusion of products containing
the relevant biotech commodity ingredients.
Nill warns that as long as food manufacturers continue to want to avoid biotech
labeling through reformulation of ingredients or by seeking out non-biotech
supplies, consumers will be driven to less safe options as a result of mandatory
GMO labeling.
To view the complete paper, go to http://www.inpulsemag.org/english/features/f18.html.
BIOTECHNOLOGY IN THE NEAR
EAST REGION
The 26th FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN) Regional Conference
for the Near East took place recently in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Ira. One
of the documents prepared for the meeting is entitled "Biotechnology for Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries in the Near East Region". The purpose of this Information
Note was to increase the awareness of member countries on this significant
issue and encourage them to undertake programs at the regional and national
levels. FAO recognized that "biotechnology has great potential to influence
and benefit agriculture, forestry and fisheries" yet also "poses certain challenges
which are largely determined by how, where and when it finds application."
The documents adds that food security in the region is threatened by desertification
of large areas, overexploitation of marginal lands and fragile ecosystems,
deforestation, erosion of biodiversity, and soil degradation. Biotechnology
offers opportunities to enhance food security and reduce environmental degradation.
At national levels, agricultural research is largely carried out by government
research institutions and to a lesser extent by universities and the private
sector. There is only a low level of biotechnology use in the region reflecting
a system where 80% of agricultural production is by small holders.
Major issues and concerns identified included policy issues,
infrastructure and capacity building, constraints at the
national and regional level, Intellectual
Property Rights (IPR), biosecurity, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity,
and ethical issues.
For further information go to: http://www.fao.org/Unfao/Bodies/RegConferences/nerc26/26nerc-e.htm.
TOBAGO CONFERENCE CALLS FOR BETTER
COMMUNICATION OF SCIENCE
The InterAcademy Panel, an organization of 80 scientific
academies from around the world, organized a workshop with
scientists and journalists to discuss
ways to improve science communication in developing countries. The workshop
was hosted by the Caribbean Academy of Sciences in Tobago.
Participants acknowledged that science communication, especially
in developing countries, is a social process that involves
professionals in science, journalism,
and policy. They voiced out the need to strengthen capacity building to enhance
communication among scientists and journalists. Other recommendations include
the development of field guides for professionals in science communication
and the establishment of a mentoring program between developed and developing
country scientists.
BIOTECHNOLOGY PERCEPTIONS: MEDICAL
VS. FOOD
A collaborative research project funded by the European
Commission, reveals that while medical biotechnologies
attract widespread support and perceived
risks are tolerated, agri-food applications are widely rejected. Social scientists
from 16 European countries, Canada, and the US explored how biotechnology is
perceived in policy making, mass media coverage and by the public.
The research notes that since 1996, there has been an increasing
differentiation in the public's view of the 'red' (medical)
and 'green' (agri-food) biotechnologies.
The public appears unwilling to support applications with no perceived benefits.
Researchers also found that the level of support for biotechnology
varies widely across countries. The more supportive countries
are Finland, the Netherlands,
the US and Canada, while Greece, Austria, France, and Denmark are far less
supportive. In keeping with the 'red' acceptance, GM medicines are supported
in all countries. By contrast, the majority are opposed to GM foods in all
but Finland, Spain, Canada, and the US.
A common concern among respondents is the unknown consequence
of GM foods for future generations and the possibility
of delayed effects. People want effective
regulation but feel the need for international regulation and cooperation.
In addition, they note the perceived weakness of democratic institutions in
comparison to multinational companies.
Full report of this study is at http://www.lse.ac.uk/Depts/lses/
FRENCH PANEL BACKS GM TRIALS
Jean-Yves Le Deaut, president of the French Parliamentary
Group on Scientific Choices (FPGCS) composed of representatives
from the food and scientific sectors,
says that they are pushing for the approval of the French government's open-field
tests policy despite protests from contrarian campaigners.
FPGSC, as cited by Reuters, believes that these GM tests are not to be undermined,
as these steps are very important to determine the total performance of the
GM crops. Advisors of the group, however, are asking the French government
to tighten supervision to prevent intrusion of GM crops into conventional and
organic crops and that the whole process be made available to the public.
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