Guest guest Posted September 1, 2001 Report Share Posted September 1, 2001 STOP APPROVAL OF " GE FISH " INSANITY ! (PART 1 ) PLEASE TELL FDA TO STOP APPROVAL OF " GE FISH " INSANITY ! On May 9, 2001, the Center for Food Safety and a coalition of over 60 petitioners, consisting of consumer and environmental protection organizations filed legal petitions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( " FDA " ), U.S. Department of Interior ( " DOI " ), U.S. Department of Commerce ( " DOC " ), U.S. Department of Defense ( " DOD " ), and U.S. Department of Agriculture ( " USDA " ) demanding a moratorium on the domestic marketing and importation of transgenic fish until FDA adequately addresses the impacts to the environment and human food safety. In addition, the petitions request that each federal agency with jurisdiction over an aspect of aquaculture take regulatory action consistent with the requests in the petition. Currently, there are over thirty-five species of transgenic fish being developed around the world and at least one company, A/F Protein, which is presently requesting approval from the FDA to market transgenic fish to consumers as food. These transgenic fish grow as much as TEN TO THIRTY Times faster than normal salmon! The releases of transgenic fish into the world's waters may cause SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS to the ENVIRONMENT & ENDANGERED SPECIES !. New studies have shown that transgenic fish are more aggressive, eat more food, and will attract more mates than wild fish. In addition, these studies show that although transgenic fish will attract more mates, their offspring will be less fit and less likely to survive. As a result, scientists predict that transgenic fish will CAUSE SOME SPECIES TO BECOME EXTINCT within only a few generations. Once one species becomes extinct, other species will likely be affected. There are already 114 species of fish, including Atlantic salmon that are listed under the Endangered Species Act ( " ESA " ). Allowing transgenic fish in ocean pens may significantly increase this number of listed species. While no federal laws specifically govern the regulation of genetically engineered animals grown for human consumption, the FDA has made the informal decision to regulate transgenic fish under its authority to review new animal drugs. Given the potential toxicity, allergenicity, and aquaculture diseases posed by the commercialization of transgenic fish, we must demand FDA to stop any approval of this GE Fish . Also please review What did your U.S. Congressman(House) vote on the " Delay FDA Approval of Genetically Engineered fish " ? (Ayes: means to Delay the approval of GE fish.) (Noes: means to accelerate the approval of GE fish.) http://clerkweb.house.gov/cgi-bin/vote.exe?year=2001 & rollnumber=218 ---------------------------- WHAT YOU CAN DO : Enclosed a SAMPLE LETTER and all of CONTACT INFORMATION . PLEASE SEND YOUR IMPORTANT " PUBLIC COMMENTS " NOW ! SAMPLE LETTER : (note: you may write your own letter or change a few wording in this sample letter if you wish. thanks.) @ PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO PLACE DOCKET NO AT THE BEGINING OF YOUR LETTER ! FDA Commissioner 5630 Fishers Lane Room 1061 (HFA-305) Rockville, MD 20852 RE: Docket No. # 01P-0230 Dear Commissioner, I am writing you to express my serious concerns about the FDA's role in approving the commercial use of transgenic fish. Given the potential human health and environmental uncertainties posed by genetically engineered fish, I urge you to reject any application seeking the use and marketing of transgenic fish. I strongly urge you to keep the GE Fish off all of the commercial markets and prohibit any importation of such GE fish. I am quite concerned about the potential impacts of these fish upon my Health. Genetically engineered fish (GE fish) are new to the human food supply and present unknown risks to human health, including the potential impacts of significantly elevated growth hormone levels in these fish. 37 people died, 1500 were partially paralyzed, and 5000 more were temporarily disabled by a syndrome that was finally linked to tryptophan made by genetically-engineered bacteria. The FDA's failure to require toxicological testing for these fish suggests that the agency's review process is favoring the biotech industry and not acting to ensure my and other millions upon millions of consumers safety. Moreover, the commercialization of these genetically engineered fish poses the potential for irreversible damage to the environment. Fish farms throughout history have repeatedly demonstrated that fish kept in ocean and freshwater pens escape from their confinements. There are compelling scientific studies documenting the potential for escaped genetically engineered fish to become invasive species that could cause permanent ecological damage to wild fish stocks as well as the wider marine environment. These new studies have shown that transgenic fish are more aggressive, eat more food, and will attract more mates than wild fish. The studies also show that although transgenic fish will attract more mates, their offspring will be less fit and less likely to survive. As a result, scientists predict that transgenic fish may cause some species to become EXTINCT within only a few generations. When one species becomes extinct, other species will likely be affected. Far more animals will be abused for corporate profits and more species will go extinct . For example, pollen from transgenic plants can cross-pollinate with genetically natural crops and wild relatives. All crops, organic and non-organic, are vulnerable to contamination from cross-pollinatation. It threatens Our Entire Food Supply . There are already 114 species of fish, including the Atlantic salmon that are listed under the Endangered Species Act. The FDA should Not promote the introduction of another threat to our endangered fisheries. For these reasons, I strongly urge FDA to fully review the significant human health and environmental risks posed by genetically engineered fish. Therefore, the approval of any GE salmon and other GE fish at this time is totally unacceptable! I fully support a permanent moratorium on the commercialization of any kind of transgenic fish. Again, please keep the GE Fish off all of the commercial markets permanently . Thank you . Sincerely yours, Your Name, Your Address, City, State, Zip U.S. Constituent(s). P.S. : Important references : http://www.safe-food.org/-issue/dangers.html http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/gefish/index.html#Articles http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/gefish/index.html (**** Letter ends here *****) ======================================== CONTACT INFORMATION : 1: The most important is to write to: FDA Commissioner, Do Not forget to put the " Docket NO. 01P-0230 " at the beginning of your letter : FDA Commissioner 5630 Fishers Lane Room 1061 (HFA-305) Rockville, MD 20852 U.S.A. -------------- 2: Please also send a similar letter to President Bush and CC to First Lady Laura Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney and Mrs. Cheney and cabinet members : President Bush : Email : president (@whitehouse.gov ) (Address to : Dear Mr. President , ) Then Copy the following address and paste to CC field. Note: must have comma between addresses. The following first three addresses has @whitehouse.gov first.lady , vice.president , mrs.cheney , DEvans, whitman.christine, ann.veneman , Gale_Norton , AskDOJ , ------------- 3: CALL/WRITE to Secretary of Health and Human Services, (Address to: Dear Honorable Secretary Tommy G. Thompson ) PLEASE CALL SECRETARY OF HEALTH NOW : Tel: 202-690-7000 (in USA) Fax: 202-690-7203 (in USA ) Address: 200 Independence Ave., S.W. Room 615-F Washington, DC 20201 U.S.A. ------------ 4: Send a FAX to Surgeon General , David Satcher M.D., Ph.D. Fax : 202-690-6960 (Address to : Dear Surgeon General, ) -- 5: Also it is important to write to : Executive Staff Analyst to the Secretary, Jolinda Gaither E-mail: jgaither (@os.dhhs.gov ) (Address to : Dear Ms.Gaither ) @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Above campaign references : http://www.safe-food.org/-issue/dangers.html http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/gefish/index.html#Articles If you have further questions on the issue, please contact : Juliana Jones , Grassroots Coordinator The Center for Food Safety 660 Pennsylvania Ave., SE , Suite 302 Washington, DC 20003 Tel: 202-547-9359 (in USA ) Fax: 202-547-9429 (in USA ) ==================================== Thanks so much for your caring, compassion and urgent help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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