Guest guest Posted August 1, 2003 Report Share Posted August 1, 2003 Wow, I was glad to see this, and thought I should pass it along... Again, if this speaks to you, please help spread the word!! Be Well, Misty L. Trepke http://www..com Kucinich Introduces Labeling Bill in House! Dear Friends, If you haven't already contacted your representatative regarding these newly introduced bills, please do so. It will only take a few moments of your time. You can download a letter for your representative here: http://www.thecampaign.org/national.php#write You can also contact your representative by email, but a letter, fax or phone call is more effective. It's not just the food we eat today at stake, but the food supply of future generations. Thank you, John Draper News Update From The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods --- - Dear News Update Subscribers, Great news! Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) introduced the Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act of 2003 in the House of Representatives on Friday. The bill number assigned to it is H.R. 2916. In addition to the labeling legislation, Kucinich also introduced five other bills that deal with the regulation of genetically engineered crops. Posted below are a press release from Kucinich that announces the bills and a summary of the bills that includes the initial co- sponsors. The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods endorses all six bills, but our primary goal is to get the Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act passed into law. This 108th Congress runs through October 2004 and we are entering into an election year. So the climate has never been better for us to get Congressional action on labeling genetically engineered foods. If you do not see your member of the House of Representatives listed as a co-sponsor on H.R. 2916, then your primary objective is to get him or her to co-sponsor the bill. If your House Representative is holding any public meetings in your area during their summer break, you might want to attend such a meeting to request that he or she co- sponsor H.R. 2916 - the Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act of 2003. We will be updating our web site later this week to reflect the new bill numbers for the legislation. 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: label 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. " *************************************************************** Kucinich Introduces Bills to Label Genetically Engineered Food and Protect Consumers Six Bills introduced In The House of Representatives To Provide A Comprehensive Regulatory Framework Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH), Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, introduced six bills today that will provide a comprehensive regulatory framework for all genetically engineered plants, animals, bacteria, and other organisms. The six bills include the Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act of 2003, which requires food companies to label all foods that contain or are produced with genetically engineered materials and instructs the Food and Drug Administration to conduct periodic tests to ensure compliance. Also introduced today were the Genetically Engineered Food Safety Act of 2003, the Genetically Engineered Crop and Animal Framer Protection Act of 2003, the Genetically Engineered Organism Liability Act of 2003, the Real Solutions to World Hunger Act of 2003 and the Genetically Engineered Pharmaceutical and Industrial Crop Safety Act of 2003. " This is a basic consumer safety issue, " stated Kucinich. " People have a right to know what is in the food they are eating, and that the food is safe. That is the goal of these bills. It is well past time that Congress change current food safety and environmental laws because the laws were not written with this technology in mind. " Combined Kucinich's bills would ensure that consumers are protected, increase food safety, protect farmers rights, make biotech companies liable for their products, and help developing nations resolve hunger concerns. *************************************************************** SUMMARY OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOOD LEGISLATION H.R. 2916 - THE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOOD RIGHT TO KNOW ACT OF 2003 Consumers wish to know whether the food they purchase and consume is a GE 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. Adoption and implementation of mandatory labeling requirements for GE food produced in the United States would facilitate international trade. This bill acknowledges consumers have a right to know what GE foods they are eating: * Requires food companies to label all foods that contain GE material and requires the FDA to ensure compliance with testing. Voluntary, non-GE food labels are also permitted. * A legal framework is established to ensure the accuracy of labeling without creating significant economic hardship on the food production system. Cosponsors: Sanders (VT); DeFazio (OR); Lee (CA); Conyers (MI); Olver (MA); Miller (CA); Honda (CA); Acevedo-Vila (PR); Brown (OH); Gutierrez (IL); Nadler (NY); Owens (NY); Velazquez (NY); Waters (CA); Watson (CA); Woolsey (CA); Kleczka (WI) H.R. 2917 - THE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOOD SAFETY ACT OF 2003 Given the consensus among the scientific community that genetic engineering can potentially introduce hazards, such as allergens or toxins, GE foods need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The possibility of such hazards dictates a cautious approach to GE food approvals. However, FDA has glossed over the food safety concerns of GE foods. This bill requires that all GE foods follow a strenuous food safety review process: * Requires FDA to screen all GE foods through the current food additive process to ensure they are safe for human consumption including a public comment period of at least 30 days. * Requires that unique concerns be explicitly examined in the review process, a phase out of antibiotic resistance markers, and a prohibition on known allergens. Cosponsors: DeFazio (OR); Sanders (VT); Lee (CA); Conyers (MI); Olver (MA); Miller (CA); Honda (CA); Acevedo-Vila (PR); Gutierrez (IL); Nadler (NY); Owens (NY); Velazquez (NY); Waters (CA); Watson (CA); Woolsey (CA) H.R. 2918. - THE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED CROP AND ANIMAL FARMER PROTECTION ACT OF 2003 Agribusiness and biotech companies have 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. These policies include unreasonable seed contracts, the intrusion into everyday farm operations, and liability burdens. This bill provides several farmer rights and protections to maintain the opportunity to farm: * Farmers may save seeds and seek compensation for failed GE crops. * 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 charge more to American farmers than they charge farmers in other nations. * Seed companies must: ensure seeds labeled non-GE are accurate; provide clear instructions to reduce cross-pollination; and inform farmers of the risks of using GE crops. * EPA is required to take action to prevent resistance to Bt, an important organic pesticide. * The bill prohibits genetic engineering designed to produce sterile seeds. Cosponsors: DeFazio (OR); Sanders (VT); Lee (CA); Conyers (MI); Olver (MA); Gutierrez (IL); Nadler (NY); Owens (NY); Velazquez (NY); Waters (CA); Watson (CA); Woolsey (CA); Acevedo-Vila (PR) H.R. 2919 - THE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED ORGANISM LIABILITY ACT OF 2003 Biotech companies are selling a technology that is being commercialized far in advance of the new science of genetic engineering. Farmers may suffer from crop failures. Neighboring farmers may suffer from cross-pollination, increased insect resistance, and unwanted " volunteer " GE plants. Therefore, biotech companies should be found liable for the failures of GE crops: * The bill places all liability from negative impacts of GE organisms squarely upon the biotechnology companies that created the GE organism. * Farmers are granted indemnification to protect them from the liabilities of GE crops. Cosponsors: DeFazio (OR); Sanders (VT); Lee (CA); Conyers (MI); Olver (MA); Acevedo-Vila (PR); Gutierrez (IL); Nadler (NY); Owens (NY); Velazquez (NY); Waters (CA); Watson (CA); Woolsey (CA) H.R. 2920 - REAL SOLUTIONS TO WORLD HUNGER ACT OF 2003 The demand for mandatory labeling, safety testing, and farmer protections do not constitute obstacles to the cessation of world hunger. Economics remain the significant barrier to a consistent food supply, and the development of expensive GE crops may only exacerbate this trend. However, 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. * To protect developing nations, GE exports are restricted to those already approved in the U.S. and approved by the importing nation. * The bill creates an international research fund for sustainable agriculture research paid for the Sustainable Agriculture Trust Fund, a small tax on biotechnology company profits. Cosponsors: DeFazio (OR); Sanders (VT); Lee (CA); Conyers (MI); Olver (MA); Acevedo-Vila (PR); Gutierrez (IL); Nadler (NY); Owens (NY); Velazquez (NY); Waters (CA); Watson (CA); Woolsey (CA) H.R. 2921 - THE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED PHARMACEUTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL CROP SAFETY ACT OF 2003 A pharmaceutical crop or industrial crop is a plant that has been genetically engineered to produce a medical or industrial product. The new products are for medical or industrial purposes only and are not intended for the food supply or released into the environment. However, experts acknowledge that contamination of our food is inevitable due to the inherent imprecision of biological and agricultural systems. Contamination by pharmaceutical crops and industrial crops pose substantial liability and economic risks to farmers, grain handlers, and food companies. * The bill places a temporary moratorium on pharmaceutical crops and industrial crops until all regulations required in this bill are in effect. * The bill places a permanent moratorium on pharmaceutical crops and industrial crops grown in an open-air environment and on pharmaceutical crops and industrial crops grown in a commonly used food source. * The USDA shall establish a tracking system to regulate the growing, handling, transportation, and disposal of all pharmaceutical and industrial crops to prevent contamination. * The National Academy of Sciences shall issue a report that explores alternatives methods to produce pharmaceuticals or industrial chemicals that do not present the risk of contamination. Cosponsors: DeFazio (OR); Sanders (VT); Lee (CA); Conyers (MI); Gutierrez (IL); Nadler (NY); Owens (NY); Velazquez (NY); Waters (CA); Watson (CA); Woolsey (CA) *************************************************************** If you would like to comment on this News Update, you can do so at the forum section of our web site at: http://www.thecampaign.org/forums *************************************************************** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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