World Consumer Rights Day 2005 focus on GMOs

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GMW: World Consumer Rights Day focus on GMOs

" GM WATCH " <info

 

Sun, 6 Mar 2005 23:10:56 GMT

 

 

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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PRESS RELEASE

 

World Consumer Rights Day 2005 focus on GMOs

 

On 15 March 2005, World Consumer Rights Day, consumer organisations all

over the world will say NO to GMOs! Consumer International (CI) member

organisations will lobby governments, hold public meetings and street

demonstrations to stop the spread of genetically modified organisms

(GMOs). They will demand labelling of all GM foods and independent safety

testing.

 

Consumers have a right to information, a right to choice and a right to

safety. On 15 March consumer organisations will campaign for labelling

of all foods containing or derived from GMOs. They will demand that

alternatives to GM foods remain widely available. Ways must be found to

establish and secure GM-free areas, and strict rules introduced to

prevent contamination of conventional and organic crops. All foods

containing

or derived from GMOs must be independently tested and subject to

international safety guidelines.

 

David Cuming, CI GM Campaign Manager says: 'The insertion of GMOs into

foodstuffs threatens fundamental consumer rights. Consumers

International is concerned about GMOs because we have yet to see

tangible benefits

for consumers and farmers. We campaigned on this issue in the past and

it remains at the top of the consumer agenda.'

 

CI have released three fact sheets, for World Consumer Rights Day,

covering key issues on GMOs: Why consumers should take action; Get your

food labelled; and " Co-existence " or GM-free zones? CI members are

receiving ideas for action, such as events and lobbying, and model

letters for

international and national authorities and retailers.

 

These materials are available on CI website:

www.consumersinternational.org/wcrd

 

About Consumers International

Consumers International is a federation of consumer organisations

dedicated to the protection and promotion of consumer's rights worldwide

through empowering national consumer groups and campaigning at the

national level. It currently represents over 250 organisations in 115

countries.

 

For more information, see: www.consumersinternational.org

 

 

 

 

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