Fwd: Coalition to Sue USDA over Biotech Crops Containing Pharmaceuticals

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Elaine <mem121 wrote: " Elaine "

Sun, 9 Mar 2003 11:02:34 -0800

Coalition to Sue USDA over Biotech Crops

Containing Pharmaceuticals

 

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P A N U P S Pesticide Action Network Updates Service

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Coalition to Sue USDA over Biotech Crops Containing Pharmaceuticals

 

March 7, 2003

 

A coalition of consumer, environmental and farm organizations took legal

action against the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to halt the

planting of biopharm crops--crops genetically engineered to contain

pharmaceuticals or industrial chemicals. The coalition filed a letter

notifying the USDA of their intention to file suit in federal court within

60 days. The notice cites the agency's gross violations of law for allowing

the field testing of biopharm crops without performing the required

environmental safety studies.

 

" The environmental and human health risks associated with biopharm crops are

substantial, " stated Peter Jenkins, Staff Attorney for the Center for Food

Safety. " By allowing these experimental, genetically engineered crops onto

U. S. farms without the required impact analysis, USDA is risking permanent

contamination of the environment and our food supply. "

 

The notice was filed by the Center for Food Safety, Beyond Pesticides,

Edmonds Institute, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Institute for

Agriculture and Trade Policy, International Center for Technology

Assessment, National Family Farm Coalition, Organic Consumers Association,

Pesticide Action Network North America and the U. S. Public Interest

Research Group. The legal action was taken in the wake of recent revelations

of biocontamination of food crops in Iowa and Nebraska by corn genetically

engineered to manufacture an unknown pharmaceutical or industrial chemical.

On November 17, 2002, USDA announced that two biocontamination incidents had

occurred in which genetically engineered corn developed by Prodigene, Inc.

polluted conventional soybeans and neighboring corn fields.

 

Biotechnology companies have conducted over 300 field trials across the

country since 1991. The organizations taking action fear that contamination

of the U. S. corn supply with genetically engineered pharmaceuticals may

have already occurred.

 

On March 6, 2003, USDA announced that it would not stop field trials of

biopharm crops, but that the agency is proposing new regulations. Under

these new rules, pharmaceutical corn crops must be planted at least one mile

away from other crops destined for human and livestock food. Current USDA

regulations call for a half-mile separation. Additional new rules include an

increase in the number of field site inspections, restrictions on the

production of food and feed crops at the test site the following season, and

use of dedicated mechanized equipment for planting and harvesting.

 

The Grocery Manufacturers Association, the world's largest association of

food, beverage and consumer product companies, stated in a press release

that the changes are " insufficient to ensure food supply safety. "

 

Environmental groups say that the proposed rules do not go far enough. On

December 16, 2002, several organizations filed a separate legal petition

calling on the USDA to prohibit open-air cultivation of all crops

genetically engineered with biopharmaceuticals (such as vaccines),

industrial chemicals or other substances with potential human health

impacts.

 

Sources: Center for Food Safety press release, March 5, 2003. USDA Press

Release, March 6, 2003. Grocery Manufacturers of America press release,

March 6, 2003.

 

Contact: Center for Food Safety, 660 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Suite 302,

Washington DC 20003; phone (202) 647-9359; fax (202) 547-9429;

http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org.

 

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