GM Foods More Controversial Than Ever
Germany, Mexico Support Safety, Not Secrecy
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More and more countries are concerned with food security and safety. This would mean no special privilege for genetically modified foods, which should be subject to scientific study -- not just a lot of lobbying -- before receiving government approval. The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods has distributed some news notes on this topic, portions of which we present here. |
Germany's Kuenast urges consumer choice on GM food
German consumers should have a choice about whether they eat genetically-modified food, German farm minister Renate Kuenast said on Wednesday, opening talks about the possible commercial use of GM crops in the country.
"Many consumers have reservations about the use of this technology," Kuenast said.
Consumer choice means that GM food should be clearly labelled, she said.
Among those invited to the government-sponsored talks in Berlin were representatives of the GM seed industry and, for the first time, representatives of churches, trade unions, farm associations, scientists and groups interested in environment and consumer protection.
A previous round of talks with the seed industry had started in December 2000 but was halted by the government in January due to swelling public concern about food safety following the discovery of mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Germany.
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The Mexican Congress unanimously demanded this week that President Vicente Fox ban the importation of genetically modified (GM) corn, and claimed the new corn could affect the genetic integrity of Mexico's crops and threaten the country's food supply.
GM corn has been a hot issue in Mexico since genes from U.S. GM corn were found in wild corn in the southern state of Oaxaca several months ago.
The Senate has also demanded access to the results of Agriculture's Secretariat's study of the affected corn in Oaxaca as well as advances in the creation of the federal commission for biosecurity.
Meanwhile, the Oaxaca state assembly is scrambling to get agricultural officials to give out information on the status of corn in their state which "could have health repercussions for Oaxacans and damage the country's ability to feed itself," legislators said.
What's your opinion? Should food manufacturers be required to provide safe products, or should government regulators get out of the way and "let the buyer beware"? Tell your views to The Progress Report:
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