URGENT - Aussie Food Irradiation submissions due 15/8

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

 

The second round of submissions against the new food irradiation plant

proposal in Qld

has a due date of 15th August 2001. Anyone who is opposed to the irradiation

of food in Australia

please send in submissions or a letter of opposition now.

 

You can visit ANZFA website for details and the whole report they sent out

to those who sent

in the first round of submissions is at

http://www.anzfa.gov.au/foodstandards/applicationa413irrad664.cfm

 

You can fax ANZFA as well on 61 2 6271 2278 and tell them you oppose the

Application

A413 - Irradiation of herbs and spices

 

There is much information available on the internet opposing food

irradiation

because of what irradiation does to food. Another issue is the proposed

building of

a nuclear facility in Qld which will be needed to irradiate our food.

 

Really folks we do not need food irradiation in Australia and there is a lot

more to this

whole issue than meets the eye.

 

Visit http://www.nukefreefood.freeservers.com/plain/plain_bkgr.htm

 

to find out more about this application.

 

Food irradiation will not benefit our health, the environment or Australian

farmers.

According to the nukefree website, " In 1992 a national moratorium was placed

on food irradiation in Australia, due to the uncertainty of its effects on

health.

 

On 3/8/99, without public consultation or debate, the Australian and New

Zealand Ministers of Health, meeting as the Australia New Zealand Food

Standards Council, agreed to the irradiation of food on a case-by-case

basis.

 

Currently before the Australia & New Zealand Food Authority is the first

application relating to food irradiation: Application No. A413. This is a

request to irradiate teas, nuts, oil seeds, herbs and spices.

 

If this application is successful, it will open the door to the irradiation

of a wide range of foodstuffs; in the U.S.A. fruit, vegetables, juices

(both fruit & veg.), beef, poultry, pork, eggs, etc are being so " treated " .

 

In Australia, food will be irradiated using gamma radiation from Cobalt 60,

a waste product from nuclear reactors. This material will be shipped from

Canada and stored on site for 25 years. Australia is, in effect, agreeing

to become a storage site for nuclear waste that nobody wants "

 

The website also says " The Beattie Labour Government says they are in favour

of this plant as it will create jobs. The reality is that only 8-10 jobs

at the very most will be created.

 

Growers in the Caboolture Shire have been told that irradiation of food will

benefit our export markets. However, under WTO. rules, if we export

irradiated food we cannot prohibit its importation. Food can be grown more

cheaply in Asia and other third world countries. In addition, the U.S. and

EU. governments still heavily subsidise some sectors of their primary

production - these foodstuffs may also be cheaper than those produced

locally.

 

Thus, we could well see the destruction of the livelihood of even more

Australian farmers and the negative, economic and social spin-off effects on

other sectors of the community as well. "

 

Visit http://www.nukefreefood.freeservers.com to see what irradiation does

to food as well as

much other information.

 

We already have problems with GE food in Australia, lets not add more

contamination to our

food and our children's food. Oppose Application A413 and let ANZFA know you

do not want

Steritech's application to irradiate food approved. Let ANZFA know we want

safe and natural food

for our children NOT irradiated food.

 

Kind regards,

 

Marguerite