Franken Foods: I won't eat GM food: (Autralia) Agriculture Minister

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GMW: I won't eat GM food: Agriculture Minister

" GM WATCH " <info

Wed, 4 May 2005 10:36:49 +0100

 

 

 

 

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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1.I won't eat GM food: Agriculture Minister

2.Profiles - Australia's GM regulator - Sue Meek

 

for what farmers think about the West Australian trial see:

http://www.non-gm-farmers.com/

 

item 2 profiles the head of the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator

which approved the trial.

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1.I won't eat GM food: Minister

by Eloise Dortch

The West Australian, May 3, 2005 [via ABIX via COMTEX via agnet!]

 

Western Australian (WA) Agriculture Minister, Kim Chance, has,

according to this story, publicly stated he would not eat genetically

modified

(GM)

foods. Chance said he did not feel comfortable eating GM foods because

not enough is known about the health effects.

 

Chance noted that despite these concerns WA should maintain scientific

knowledge of GM crops, and expressed support for the trial of GM

salt-tolerant wheat at Corrigan that was recently approved by the

Office of

the Gene Technology Regulator. WA

Opposition agriculture spokesman, Paul Omodei, said Chance's comments

appeared contradictory.

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2.Profiles - Australia's GM regulator - Sue Meek

http://www.gmwatch.org/profile1.asp?PrId=278

 

In December 2001 Dr Sue Meek became Australia's inaugural Gene

Technology Regulator. She was the first appointee under the Gene

Technology Act

2000, which 'provides a comprehensive legal framework for the

regulation of genetically modified organisms in

Australia, in order to protect human health and safety and the

environment.'

 

At the end of December 2003 the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator

(OGTR) announced the approval for the license of Monsanto's GM Roundup

Ready canola (oilseed rape). The Network of Concerned Farmers (NCF)

called for a parliamentary enquiry into this decision and a review of the

employment of Sue Meek as Gene Technology Regulator. 'It is not

acceptable for the OGTR to ignore submissions, ignore advisory

committees and

misrepresent the legislation,'

they said. (OGTR decision not acceptable )

 

Upon appointment, Dr Meek said she was a firm believer in 'having

regulatory systems in place to ensure there are safeguards for the

community

and the environment', adding, 'As the Regulator, I am

neither a proponent, nor critic, of gene technologies, but it is my job

to vigorously implement the new laws which govern the development,

trial and release of GMOs in the best interest of all Australians.' (New

Technology Regulator Takes Up Position)

 

But some questioned the extent to which Dr Meek could be seen as not 'a

proponent' of gene technologies given her professional background.

According to Dr Meek's CV, from 1984-88 she was

Technical Director of her own company, Sue Meek and Associates,

'specialising in the commercialisation of biologically-based

ventures'. She

was also engaged at this time as Executive Officer to the South

Australian Biotechnology Promotion Committee.

 

Although she subsequently moved into the public sector, all of her

subsequent posts prior to becoming Gene Technology Regulator have also

placed her in an industry-sympathetic role involving encouraging the

development of the biotechnology industry and the commercialisation of

its

products. Dr Meek was for several years Executive Director of the Science

and Technology Division, in the Department of Commerce and Trade. Prior

to that she

was Manager of the Emerging Industries Branch, of the Department of

State Development, with responsibilities that included improving the

State's capacity 'to identify, develop and adopt opportunities' from

industries such as biotechnology. Dr Meek has also been Manager of the

Biotechnology Branch, in the Technology and Industry Development

Authority,

and as such 'responsible for promoting the establishment and development

of biotechnology-based industry'.

 

She is also a member of both the Australian Institute of Companys and AusBiotech. The latter describes itself as 'the national

body

of companies and individuals dedicated to the development and prosperity

of the Australian biotechnology industry. AusBiotech provides a

'platform' that brings together all the relevant players involved in the

Australian biosciences community. Its mission is to facilitate the

commercialisation of Australian bioscience in the

 

international marketplace.' It also states its aim as, 'To encourage

and facilitate the commercialisation of Australian biotechnology in the

domestic and international marketplace.' (What is Ausbiotech?)

 

Groups like the Network of Concerned Farmers have, understandably,

asked whether a career path so consistently built around biotechnology

commercialisation was appropriate for a key

regulatory figure. They have also questioned the funding base of the

Office of the Gene Technology Regulator where a proposed funding change

would allow the GM industry, instead of the government, to fund this

supposedly independent regulatory body after 2005 under a cost recovery

principle. (Why trust the regulatory process?)

 

 

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