[Imc] Farmer group opposes GM corn approval

[peterm at shout.net]

We're winning!

The release below is from the National Farmers Union, a more progressive
group than the seemingly omnipotent Farm Bureau (whose former president
referred to anti-GMO activists as fascist "Green Shirts").  The NFU is
responding to a corporate request to re-classify the GM corn that
contaminated the US corn supply as 'fit for human consumption.'

A good summary of the business side of the latest waves of GM
disintegration can be found in the Monday News-Gazette, right on page 1.

-Peter

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2000 17:31:03 -0500
From: Clarence White <nfudccw at sso.org>
To: farmers.union.news at nfu.org
Subject: NFU Release: NFU Board to EPA: Reject StarLink for Human
    Consumption


For Immediate Release	Contact: Washington NFU Office
December 4, 2000	Clarence White, 202-314-3191
								     nfudccw at sso.org



NFU Board to EPA: Reject StarLink for Human Consumption


WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 4, 2000)- The National Farmers Union (NFU) board
of directors, in a letter to Carol Browner, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) administrator, urged the agency to reject a proposal to allow
genetically engineered "StarLink" corn to be approved for human consumption.
Approval of this product without proper review would severely compromise the
perception of safety of our corn supply at a critical time for American
agricultural products both in the United States and abroad.

 "Approval of any food product must be based on food safety criteria and not
damage control," said NFU President Leland Swenson.  "If StarLink is
approved for human consumption after the fact, it will be impossible to
restore consumer confidence in our corn supply."

Since the introduction of StarLink, problems in keeping the genetically
modified corn from entering the human food supply have arisen due to the
lack of appropriate regulatory standards governing the growing and marketing
of StarLink corn.  Standards are insufficient to prevent neighboring farm
contamination from cross-pollination.  Safeguards are lacking to control
contamination during transportation and traditional marketing in order to
keep this modified corn out of the human food supply.

This is further complicated by the seed manufacturer's failure to provide
adequate information and procedures to farmers, storage facilities and other
commercial entities to enable them to ensure proper segregation of the seed,
crops, and harvested corn.  Farmers Union has demanded several actions be
taken by the manufacturer in cooperation with federal and state agencies to
restore public confidence in the food supply.

"Lack of control over this product has resulted in economic losses for
farmers, storage facilities, and processors of corn and has compromised
worldwide confidence in the health and safety of U.S. agricultural
products," said Swenson.  "Immediate action is necessary to begin the
process of rebuilding the confidence of U.S. farmers, marketers, processors,
retailers and consumers to ensure a safe and reliable food supply to both
our citizens and in markets throughout the world," said Swenson.

-30-


NFU on the Internet:  http://www.nfu.org