GMW: Co-existence impossible, Bologna conference told

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GMW: " Co-existence " impossible, Bologna conference told

" GM WATCH " <info

Fri, 9 Sep 2005 21:15:29 +0100

 

 

 

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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Appeal to EC and world for caution over GMO contamination

Bologna, Italy, 9 September 05

 

Consumers International (CI) made an appeal for caution over

genetically modified organism (GMO) contamination. David Cuming, CI GM

Campaign

Manager, said: 'Stop GMO contamination - it can happen quickly and over

vast areas and is irreversible. In places, like Italy, where there are

a lot of small farms with traditional and organic crops, " co-existence "

is probably impossible without removing the freedom of consumers and

farmers to choose.'

 

Speaking at a conference in Italy, organised by CI and

RegioneEmilia-Romagna, David Cuming advised 'All countries worldwide

must introduce

strict rules to prevent contamination, and allow for GM-free zones,

before

allowing GMOs in their countries. The EC must wait until they have

completed the full review of " co-existence " in Europe before approving

new

GMO crops.'

 

Prof. Ignacio Chapela, leading expert on GMOs told the conference

' " Co-existence " of GMOs and GM-free plants is biologically impossible.

If we

keep thinking like this it won't be a question of - if contamination

will occur: It will be a question of when and how much? We do not have

the political will, the technical capacity or the independence of

thought to deal with " co-existence " ; neither to monitor its

development, nor

to remedy its consequences. Proposed biosafety and bioethical

frameworks will not prevent contamination.'

 

GMO and consumer experts from Canada, USA, Brazil, Thailand, Zambia,

Austria, Italy and UK presented their position on " co-existence " ,

contamination and GM-free zones at the conference in Bologna. Recent

examples

of GMO contamination cases are: canola fields in Australia and Canada,

shipments of maize to Japan and New Zealand, and illegal rice in China.

 

Note to editors

 

The EC are making decisions on whether to allow several new GMO crops

into Europe and the Commission is preparing a report on how EU states

are dealing with 'co-existence' expected at the end of this year.

 

The GM-free zone movement is growing in the EU and in the USA, with

increasing interest in developing countries.

 

Pressure from the biotech industry is mounting in Africa for countries

to grow GMOs.

 

Summaries of speeches made at the conference will be made available on

CI website.

 

International conference open to the public

organised by Regione Emilia-Romagna and Consumers International

 

'Co-existence', contamination and GM-free zones - Jeopardising consumer

choice?

http://www.consumersinternational.org/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=93963 & int1st\

ParentNodeID=89650 & int2ndParentNodeID=89677

 

 

 

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