Government should stop relying on industry self regulation
OTTAWA-New Democrat Leader Jack Layton and Agriculture Critic Alex Atamanenko are calling on the Prime Minister to reassess government regulations around genetically modified foods. At issue are concerns regarding the advisability of relying on the biotech industry’s own science to determine the way in which genetically modified food are regulated in Canada.
In a letter sent to Harper, Layton points to an independent study by French scientists who, after studying the effects of the most common Roundup formulations on human cells, found that when the individual compounds were used in mixtures they became deadly.
“These respected scientists have raised the alarm that current regulations are built around single compounds and do not take this phenomenon into account,” said Layton. “Given the increased use and presence of Roundup in the food chain we must take these findings seriously.”
“The fundamentals on which the economic and regulatory foundation has been built to govern this powerful technology are systematically being questioned by the scientific community,” noted Atamanenko. “For instance it was once believed that genes operate independently of each other in predictable and controllable ways. Scientists now say that because genes interact in such a complex network they have no idea how things will turn out.”
Atamanenko and Layton also urged the government to rescind the impending approvals for GM Sugar Beets and Alfalfa given the obvious lack of understanding about the technology in the scientific community including its safety.
Dear Prime Minister Harper,
We write today to express our deepest concern over the government of Canada’s unqualified support for the biotechnology industry which allows the sale and release of genetically modified food crops and the chemicals associated with them to continue. Our objections are based on the fact that many of the presumptions and theories under which the entire economic and regulatory foundation has been built to govern this powerful technology are systematically being questioned by the scientific community.
We would first like to bring to your attention to the attached independent research paper Glyphosate Formulations Induce Apoptosis and Necrosis in Human Umbilical, Embryonic and Placental Cells”, recently published by the American Chemical Society. Respected scientists Nora Benshour and Gilles-Eric Seralini, from the Committee of Independent Research and Information on Genetic Engineering (CRIIGEN), have studied the toxicity mechanisms of four different Roundup formulations in human cells, and have released the following results:
It was found that at doses well below the recommended agricultural dilutions, cumulative cell death occurred within a few hours. The scientists recorded inhibited cell respiration along with membrane and DNA damage.
It was found that the toxic effects depend on and are multiplied by other compounds used in the mixtures currently in the market.
It was also shown that the mixture of the components used as Roundup adjuvants amplified the action of the active principle called glyphosate noting that one of its metabolites may be even more toxic.
The study raises the alarm that this phenomenon is not reflected in current regulations which are designed around single compounds.
Since more than 75% of genetically modified edible plants on the market have been designed to tolerate high levels of Roundup formulations, and given their increased use and presence in the food chain, there is an urgent need to review the government‘s policies and regulations toward all Roundup products currently on the market. It would also seem wise to re-examine the validity and thoroughness of the industry science upon which the government initially relied to devise regulations.
We would also like to take this opportunity to bring to your attention another long held presumption that is proving to be baseless. The theory that genes are predictable and controllable because they operate independently under a “one gene, one protein” principle is no longer being recognized as the norm. Scientists now say that genes appear to operate in a complex network, and interact and overlap with one another and with other components in ways that are quite far from being understood.
In light of the above we are asking on behalf of Canadians that you immediately rescind the environmental and health approvals for Genetically Modified (GM) alfalfa in Canada. Besides everything else we have mentioned there is no way to justify the registration of any GM varieties which will allow for its release into the marketplace given that:
Once released it will be impossible to prevent the eventual contamination of organic, conventional and even weedy relatives of alfalfa (ie: we now know that GM canola plants have interbred with wild mustard and are proving to be resistant to Monsanto’s herbicide Roundup)
Alfalfa is used by the majority of organic farmers to fix nitrogen in the soil during crop rotations.
Organic food and animal feed standards prohibit the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) in any aspect of organic production including the soil in which it is grown;
Therefore, if GM alfalfa is released for general use in agriculture a much valued organic industry will eventually be denied a vital crop as a result of the genetic contamination that will inevitably occur. Amidst the growing demand for organic food and the ongoing farm crisis, certified organic farmers should be supported rather than left to live under the constant threat of losing crops to contamination from GM plants.
It would also be wise for Canada to rescind the environmental release approval for GM sugar beets at this time for many of the same reasons.
As you are no doubt aware France, Romania, Hungary, Italy, Austria, Greece and Poland are maintaining their national bans on Monsanto’s corn MON 810 after serious doubts about its safety were discovered by an independent study. We call upon you to initiate a recall in Canada and impose a ban on this Monsanto maize. In recognition that this may cause economic hardship for producers and retailers we encourage your government to provide adequate compensation to all those affected.
After playing such a key role in the selection of the 400 leading agriculture scientists who provided research it was very distressing to see Canada reject the final report of the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD). According to the report genetically modified crops will not address the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, hunger or poverty. Instead it is calling on the world’s governments to redirect funding and efforts away from the destructive chemical-dependent, one-size-fits-all model of agriculture and towards a system which embraces small-scale farmers and agro-ecological methods. It is a national embarrassment that Canada would be one of only three countries to refuse to sign a document which was supported by 60 other countries.
We cannot stress enough how imperative it is that Canada rescind its unqualified support for the genetic manipulation and contamination of the world’s food crops before it goes one step further. The biotech industry has failed to live up to any of its promises nor can they provide reasonable assurances that their products and the associated chemicals they require are a) safe for human consumption; b) have no adverse effects on the natural environment; c) provide an increase in crop yields over other methods; d) reduce the need for chemical applications; or that e) gene-splicing technology and its products are predictable or controllable.
The time is long overdue for a full re-assessment of the process by which GM products have been and continue to be approved in Canada. A first positive step in this direction would be to introduce legislation requiring the mandatory labelling of genetically modified foods. As we continue to research and investigate the effect of genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) on our environment and health Canadians deserve the right to know what they are eating.
Sincerely,
Original Signed
Alex Atamanenko, M.P. NDP Critic for Agriculture and Agri-Food
Honourable Jack Layton, P.C, M.P. Leader, New Democratic Party
Tags: genetically modified, Roundup