Guest guest Posted December 5, 2004 Report Share Posted December 5, 2004 Sender: owner-realfood@f... Precedence: bulk X-Majordomo-loop-test: mailhost.foe.co.uk In a nutshell Unchallenged supermarket takeovers are putting consumer choice at risk: the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) decided to wave through Sainsbury's takeover of 114 Jacksons stores without any investigation of the impacts (see 30 October 2004). So Friends of the Earth, together with the Association of Convenience Stores, FARM and the National Federation of Women's Institutes, are asking the OFT to open a new investigation of supermarket domination of the grocery market in the form of a full `Market Review' (see 25 November 2004). Ask your MP to fight supermarket power by signing a parliamentary petition demanding a stronger Code of Practice and a retail regulator with `teeth'. http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/real_food/press_for_change/code_practi ce/index.html. US plans to allow contamination of human food crops with experimental GM crops have caused great concern (see 23 November 2004). It is impossible to test for the presence of experimental GM material in foods imported from or processed in the US, because over two-thirds of US experimental GM crops contain genes classified as confidential, and which therefore can't be detected. But the problems don't end with experimental crops - a new scientific paper has debunked the myth that genetically modified (GM) crops are thoroughly tested, regulated and proven safe (see 16 November 2004). The paper includes a comprehensive case study of two types of GM maize, showing how flawed testing and regulation permitted these varieties onto world markets despite evidence that they could cause food allergies. In the UK, new research has indicated it will be very difficult to control GM crops and prevent contamination (see 29 November 2004) – the research showed large numbers of seeds were d! ropped at harvest, and the development of `superweeds'. But there was good news with the adoption by the German Parliament of a new law that will help protect consumers and farmers against the risks of GM foods and crops (see 26 November 2004). GM farmers and operators will be held financially liable for economic damage caused if their crops contaminate non-GM crops. Also in Europe, member states voted against proposals to overturn bans of GM crops in five countries (see 29 September 2004), although they narrowly failed to reach the qualified majority needed – the proposals will now go to a Council of Ministers meeting next year. And in the UK, local campaigners from 65 local groups around the country took to the streets with their scarecrows to demand no GM contamination (see 30 October 2004). Scarecrows are now popping up all over the country as a symbol for the campaign, and will be gathering en masse in Parliament on 23rd February for our mass lobby and rally. Find out more, and sign up to come at http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/real_food/press_for_change/lobby/. You can also visit www.gmfreescarecrows.org for other resources and to find out if transport is being arranged from your local area. Thank you for your support and help with our campaigns Liz Wright Real Food & Farming Campaign Assistant ____ 29 November 2004 Europe votes to keep GM crop bans Commission's position - unpopular and undemocratic Europe's member states today voted against proposals to overturn the bans of genetically modified (GM) crops in five countries. The GM position of the European Commission, who tabled the vote, has been described by Friends of the Earth as " deeply unpopular and clearly undemocratic " . Results: On lifting the bans on Sygenta's Bt176 maize in German, Austria and Luxembourg In favour: 54 votes; Against: 221 votes; Abstained: 46 votes On lifting the ban on Bayer's T25 maize in Austria In favour: 54 votes; Against: 221 votes; Abstained: 46 votes On lifting the ban on Monsanto's MON810 maize in Austria In favour: 73 votes; Against: 178 votes; Abstained: 70 votes On lifting the ban on Bayer's oilseed rape Topas 19/2 in France and Greece In favour: 54 votes; Against: 178 votes; Abstained: 89 votes On lifting the ban on Bayer's oilseed rape MS1xRf1 in France In favour: 54 votes; Against: 178 votes; Abstained: 89 votes The votes today took place in the Regulatory Committee meeting on the deliberate release of GMOs in the environment. Each of the Commission's proposals, calling on countries to repeal their bans within 20 days, failed to get the required " qualified majority " of 232 votes out of 321. For some of the bans the Commission narrowly escaped a qualified majority against them. The proposals will now go to a Council of Ministers meeting in the new year. The Commission's proposals are seen as a direct result of the trade dispute in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) started last year by the United States, Argentina and Canada. The three countries claim that Europe's precautionary stance on GM food, including the national bans, are a barrier to free trade and harm their farmers. The WTO has set up a 3-person panel which is currently meeting in secret to judge the case. A final verdict is expected next year. " European countries should be congratulated for not supporting these outrageous proposals " , said Adrian Bebb, GM Campaigner of Friends of the Earth Europe. " The European Commission only survived today by a handful of votes. Their position on genetically modified foods is deeply unpopular and clearly undemocratic. This should serve as wake-up call for them to start fighting for the right of countries to ban genetically modified foods instead of caving in to the pressure of the World Trade Organisation and the Bush Administration. " A full briefing from Friends of the Earth on the national bans can be found at: http://www.foeeurope.org/biteback/download/national_bans_briefing_Oct 2004.pdf A new report published today by Friends of the Earth heavily criticises the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for its constant position in favour of the biotechnology industry. The advice from EFSA is used by the European Commission to justify the approval of new GM foods and also the lifting of the national bans. A press release and the report can be found at: www.foeeurope.org/press/2004/AB_29_Nov_EFSA.htm ____ 29 November 2004 New research highlights threat of GM contamination New research released today indicates that it will extremely difficult for conventional crops to exist without GM contamination if GM crops are commercialised, said Friends of the Earth. The Bright project, part-funded by the biotech industry, examined different rotations of GM and non-GM herbicide tolerant winter oilseed rape and sugar beet, and was set up to look at herbicide use and weed control. It also examined issues around cross-pollination of oilseed rape, and the survival of GM oilseed rape seeds in the ground after the crops had been harvested. The results appear to confirm fears that, if released commercially, GM crops will be difficult to control and will cross-pollinate with non- GM crops. This could pose a real threat of contamination for conventional varieties. For example, the study found that - Large numbers of GM oilseed rape seeds were dropped at harvest, with on average 1000 per m2 surviving in the soil. As a result, GM plants would be likely to grow again in the same fields along with other crops in subsequent years. - Over the course of just four years, the different herbicide tolerant oilseed rape crops used in the trials bred to produce seeds with " combinations of herbicide tolerance " . These plants could lead to farmers having to use stronger, or combinations of, weed killers if they wanted to get rid of them. " This new research highlights yet again the risks of allowing GM crops to be grown commercially in the UK " , said Friends of the Earth GM Campaigner Emily Diamand. " Conventional oilseed rape would be threatened with GM contamination, and GM `superweeds' could add to problems for farmers. It is little wonder that GM food and crops are so unpopular. It is high time the biotech industry abandoned its plans to grow GM food in the UK. The Government should stop supporting GM crops and concentrate on sustainable methods of farming instead. " " This new research should offer little comfort to the biotech industry. Any suggestion that it could be used to push the case for GM commercialisation would be clutching at GM straws, and would ignore the study's limited scope, and the very real problems that it has thrown up. " ____ 26 November 2004 New German law will help keen Europe GM-free Friends of the Earth today welcomed the adoption by the German Parliament of a new law that will help protect consumers and farmers against the risks of genetically modified (GM) foods and crops. The news comes as the UK Government looks set to allow widespread GM contamination of crops and food - of up to nine times the detection limit - even though a consultation on the issue is yet to be launched. The German law introduces the principle that GM farmers and operators are financially liable for economic damage caused if their crops contaminate non-GM crops. The most important provisions are: - In the case of economic damage (e.g. when organic or conventional farmers cannot sell their products due to the presence of GM material), the neighbouring farmers growing GM crops are liable. If it is not clear which farmer has caused GM contamination, the principle of joint and several liability will apply, where all neighbouring GM farmers who could have been responsible for the contamination will be liable. - A publicly available site register will be set up, which will contain precise information about where GM crops are intended to be grown. " This law gives GM growers and operators a strong incentive not to contaminate neighbouring fields, helping to protect the freedom of choice for consumers and farmers " , said Friends of the Earth GM Campaigner Clare Oxborrow. " It should provide a benchmark for similar moves in the UK and across Europe. If the UK Government is determined to grow GM crops in the UK, it must introduce tough new laws to prevent GM contamination of our crops and food " . Friends of the Earth said they were however concerned by weaknesses in the German law which virtually ignores damage to the environment from GM crops. Protection for Ecologically Sensitive areas is restricted to " Natura 2000 " sites, which form a mere 2.5 per cent of land in Germany. Friends of the Earth is also concerned that the European Commission may already be planning to attempt to overrule the law by taking Germany to the European Court of Justice. The Commission has already hinted at this in a leaked document from July 2004. Friends of the Earth firmly believes that the European Commission should not threaten the protective measures and civil rights put in place by member state Governments. ____ 26 November 2004 Call for new investigation into big four supermarkets The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is today (Friday 26th) being asked by groups representing, consumers, farmers, small suppliers, small shops and environmental interests to open a new investigation of supermarket domination of the grocery market. The application for a full OFT Market Review into the grocery sector highlights the damaging impacts of market concentration on small stores, on farmers and on consumer choice. The groups will also ask the OFT not to approve any further takeovers of convenience stores by the biggest four supermarkets whilst the market study is being carried out. Friends of the Earth (FOE), The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), the National Federation of Women's Institutes (NFWI) and FARM have put together an application for a full OFT market review into the grocery sector setting out how: - Market consolidation is having damaging impacts on the local economy of communities across the UK - Market concentration by the big four supermarkets has accelerated rapidly since the most recent investigation in 2000 - How new trends such as the huge rise of acquisitions of convenience stores by big supermarkets are reducing consumer choice - Supermarkets have an armlock on their suppliers The application says that changes in the market since the last review of supermarket in 2000, and the lack of action from the competition authorities, make a new review of the market essential. Under the Enterprise Act (2002) interested parties are entitled to raise concerns about particular markets and request a Market Study. " The domination of the grocery market by the biggest supermarkets has been allowed to increase, unchecked, since the last investigation over four years ago " , said Friends of the Earth Supermarkets Campaigner Sandra Bell. " The Office of Fair Trading has so far turned a deaf ear on concerns about loss of small shops, bullying of suppliers and erosion of consumer choice. As consumers, we are in danger of losing any choice over where we shop, and environmental and social standards are under threat as supermarket suppliers are forced to cut costs. " " This application for a market review has brought together a range of organizations who share a concern for the future of a UK grocery market which is increasingly dominated by a handful of big players " , said ACS Chief Executive David Rae. " The Big Four superstores achieve buying terms that force our members to drive down their own margins in order to compete. The superstores have undertaken predatory below cost selling which drives out smaller competitors. The UK is extraordinarily liberal in its approach to the grocery market, and this application aims to question what the Government and competition authorities want to market to look like in years to come, and to take action now to arrest the decline in diversity and consumer choice that is taking place in neighbourhoods and villages throughout the country. " The submission also highlights the failure of existing measures, including the supermarket code of practice which make the need for a market review even more urgent. " The unfair practices of the biggest supermarkets are continuing unabated to the detriment of farmers and consumers " , said NFWI Chairman Barbara Gill. " There is a real need for a code of conduct and supermarket watchdog to prevent the big multiples pushing small independent stores out of business and abusing their purchasing power by driving prices below their natural level. There is also a need for a wider investigation of the whole grocery market which has become much more concentrated over the last few years " ____ 23 November 2004 Anger over US plans to allow GM contamination of food Plans to allow contamination of human food crops with biotech or genetically modified (GM) experimental crops grown on `test' sites will be published tomorrow (Wednesday) by the US Government's Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If the proposal is accepted it could to lead to GM pollution of food consumed in Europe. It is impossible to test for the presence of experimental GM material in foods imported from or processed in the US, because over two-thirds of US experimental GM crops contain genes classified as confidential, and which therefore can't be detected. The US proposals, which could be accepted in 60 days from 25 November, will reduce the legal liability on biotech companies and will act as a major disincentive for them to control GM field tests. Contamination is therefore likely to increase. " The US seems determined to push GM food down the world's throat, regardless of the consequences " , said Friends of the Earth GM Campaigner Emily Diamand. " Instead of insisting on strict controls to prevent experimental GM crops contaminating the food chain, the Bush administration is proposing to legalise this pollution, with unknown consequences for human health and the environment. This reckless proposal should ring alarm bells for every consumer, food company and Government across the planet. " The FDA has allowed a period of 60 days from the 25th of November for responses to its proposals. Friends of the Earth is urging all concerned citizens, companies and government authorities around the world to make objections to the US government, in the strongest possible terms, against this attempt to contaminate the world's food supplies with experimental GMOs. Experimental GM crops are currently permitted to be grown on a minimum of 23,000 hectares (ha) in the United States, and some individual test sites are over 400 ha in size. The approved area for GM crop tests since the late 1980s is over 200,000 ha. They include crops engineered for herbicide or insect resistance, altered nutritional properties, or sterile pollen or seeds. Other crops generate pharmaceuticals or anti-fungal compounds that resemble proteins that cause food allergies. The US government is not proposing any maximum threshold for `inadvertent' contamination of food, feed and seed stocks from experimental sites. The new policy sets out loose `safety assessment' guidelines under which a company may voluntarily consult with the FDA to have its experimental GM crop material deemed " acceptable " as a contaminant in food. The `safety assessment' is based on paperwork and two inadequate tests that the FDA estimates will take companies just 20 hours to complete. The proposed review also excludes testing for unintended effects caused by genetic modification. This inadequate review would grant biotech companies the legal cover to allow their experimental GM crops to enter the American food supply. The US biotechnology and grain industries are already calling on the US government to " vigorously promote global adoption " of this policy " Allowing conventional food to be contaminated by experimental crops is a recipe for disaster " , said Bill Freese, Research Analyst with Friends of the Earth US. " What is even more unbelievable is that the Bush Administration wants to promote this policy around the world as an international model. " Since over two-thirds of experimental GM crops grown in the US contain genes classified as confidential, there is little public information about what genes are being tested. Without this basic information, laboratories will be unable to look for their presence in food products. This will have serious consequences for food companies wishing to avoid such contamination and Governments carrying out checks on imports. Neither will be able to detect the contamination as they won't know what they are looking for. The FDA policy comes in response to a 2002 initiative by the Bush Administration. FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford describes the policy as " a high priority for the Administration and the industry, to enhance public confidence, avoid product recalls, and provide an international model " for similar policies around the world [3] In January, the US Dept. of Agriculture proposed a similar policy for its sphere of GM crop regulation (plant pest risks). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to issue its own contamination approval policy applicable to pesticide-producing GM crops in the near future. A briefing paper with more information is available at: http://www.foei.org/publications/pdfs/contamination.pdf ____ 16 November 2004 GM safety tests flawed – new research A peer-reviewed scientific paper, published today in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Reviews, debunks the myth that genetically modified (GM) crops are thoroughly tested, regulated and proven safe. The paper, " Safety Testing and Regulation of Genetically Engineered Foods " , includes a comprehensive case study of two types of insecticide-producing GM maize (chiefly the MON810 variety of biotech giant Monsanto), showing how flawed testing and regulation permitted these varieties onto world markets despite evidence that they could cause food allergies. The European Commission recently approved 17 maize varieties derived from MON810, a move that was criticized by a number of EU states including Poland, Austria, Italy, Germany, Greece and Denmark. Friends of the Earth has also raised concerns with UK Environment Secretary, Margaret Beckett about the prospects of Monsanto's GM maize being grown in the UK. The British Government has assured the public that GM crops would only be grown in Britain following rigorous testing and under tough controls. But unless the Government takes preventative action, Monsanto's GM maize (MON810) could be grown in the UK by farmers as early as next spring. The scientific paper reveals fundamental flaws in how biotech companies test GM crops, and the way the U.S. government regulates them. The paper raises serious questions about whether GM foods, which have been on the market since 1994, are in fact safe, as claimed by the biotech industry and U.S. regulators. Authors Dr. David Schubert and William Freese base their meticulously documented, 25-page paper on nearly 100 sources, including little- known U.S. regulatory documents and unpublished studies by biotech companies. " One thing that surprised us is that U.S. regulators rely almost exclusively on information provided by the biotech crop developer, and those data are not published in journals or subjected to peer review, " said co-author Dr David Schubert. William Freese said: " In one case, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ignored a published study by an Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scientist suggesting that GM corn could cause food allergies, and instead asked Monsanto and Syngenta to essentially re-do FDA's analysis. " The US is the world's largest exporter of GM crops and accounts for nearly two-thirds of all biotech crops planted globally. GM soya and GM maize account for 83 percent of all GM crops planted on the planet. " The picture that emerges from our study of U.S. regulation of GM foods is a rubber-stamp `approval process' designed to increase public confidence in, but not ensure the safety of, genetically engineered foods, " said Schubert. " We outline a testing scheme that would be a first step toward putting regulation of GM foods on a scientific footing, " he added. Friends of the Earth's GM campaigner, Clare Oxborrow, said: " This paper undermines claims that GM foods are well tested and well regulated in the United States, and raises serious question marks over the safety of GM products that the European Commission is forcing onto the market.The Commission must put the safety of people and the environment ahead of the profits of biotech firms and refuse to licence any new GM food or crops. " See " Key Findings " at http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/gm_safety_tests_flawed_n ew_24112004.html for more information on the paper. ____ 30 October 2004 Supermarket giants taking over the high street Unchallenged supermarket takeovers are putting consumer choice at risk, Friends of the Earth warned today, following the Office of Fair Trading's decision to wave through Sainsbury's takeover of 114 Jacksons stores without any investigation of the impacts on suppliers, consumers or independent stores. The environmental campaign group said that this latest takeover of high street convenience stores reflected a piecemeal takeover of the high street which could eradicate consumer choice. Friends of the Earth believes competition authorities are making a mistake in dealing with these takeovers on a case by case basis and ignoring the overall impacts of this on-going trend. Recent takeovers include: • November 2002: Tesco takeover of T & S • January 2004: Tesco takeover of Adminstore • February 2004: Sainsbury takeover of Bells • October 2004: Sainsbury acquisition of Jackson's This recent wave of acquisitions of convenience store groups by supermarkets raises concerns about whether there will be a viable independent convenience store sector in the long term, raising serious issues for consumer choice. The environmental group wants the Competition Commission to carry out an investigation into the impacts of the takeovers, to include the increased buyer power gained by the supermarkets as they add to their market share bit by bit via these takeovers. Suppliers to the major supermarkets, including farmers, already suffer from the huge imbalance in power. Tesco and Sainsbury together control some 45% of the grocery market. The Competition Commission has acknowledged that supermarkets with considerable buyer power (defined as over eight per cent) are abusing their position. The Supermarket Code of Practice was intended to stop this, but has proved ineffective. Friends of the Earth is part of an alliance of 15 organisations calling for the Code to be strengthened and put on a statutory footing. " The competition authorities are making a big mistake by waving through a series of takeovers of convenience chains by big supermarkets " , said Friends of the Earth Supermarkets Campaigner Sandra Bell. " They are allowing Tesco and Sainsbury's to continually add to their power in the market and reduce choice in the high street without any investigation of the impacts on consumers or suppliers. These supermarkets are already using their market power to bully suppliers and drive out competition. Further takeovers should be halted until a full investigation of the impacts of convenience store takeovers is carried out, and a strict statutory Code of Practice is introduced to ensure fairer trading practices with supermarket suppliers " . ____ 30 October 2004 Anti-GM scarecrows take to the streets This Saturday (30 October), scarecrows and anti-GM campaigners from all corners of the country will take to the streets to demand that their fields and food are kept GM free. The events are part of a national day of action involving 65 Friends of the Earth groups, and come as the Government looks set to allow widespread GM contamination of crops and food - of up to nine times the detection limit - even though its consultation on the issue is yet to be launched. Campaigners from Cornwall to Cumbria will be encouraging the public to sign " scarecrow post cards " to send to their local MPs challenging them to demand tough new laws preventing GM contamination of crops and food. Whilst there are no GM crops currently being grown in the UK, the threat of GM planting remains. There are at least 10 applications awaiting approval to grow GM crops EU-wide. If given the go ahead, farmers would be allowed to grow them in the UK. The Government has started looking at what practical measures will be needed to allow GM crops to be grown, such as separation distances from conventional and organic crops. A public consultation is due to start imminently. However, despite a recent NOP World poll showing that nearly two thirds of the UK public support tough new laws to prevent GM contamination of their food and farming, the Government looks set to allow for widespread GM contamination of conventional crops and food. " Once again the Government looks set to ignore the wishes of the public and is planning to allow widespread GM contamination of our crops and food " , said Friends of the Earth GM Campaigner Clare Oxborrow. " This is totally unacceptable. That is why up and down the country scarecrows are joining campaigners and the public in challenging MPs to stand up to the Government for our right to choose GM free food. " Friends of the Earth believes that Britain should stay GM-free but says that if the Government makes the mistake of allowing GM crops to be grown, tough rules must be put in place that ensure no GM contamination of non-GM crops in neighbouring fields. -- " http://community.foe.co.uk is a virtual meeting place where campaigners can exchange know-how, discuss actions and find out about the activities of other groups " . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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