|
Producers tax dollars fund questionable study
Farm Weekly (WA)
05/12/05
The announcement by Minister Chance that the WA Government is going to fund tests to achieve “independent data” on the safety of approved genetically modified (GM) foods (‘Food trials for biotech crop’, 01/12/05) raises some very interesting questions.
The process undertaken by Australia’s food regular, Food Standards Australia New Zealand, to assess the safety of GM foods follows internationally accepted guidelines supported by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations and the World Health Organisation. In spite of very detailed studies no evidence has been found to indicate that foods from approved GM crops are any different to those from non-GM crops.
It should also be highlighted that the “independent” researchers funded to undertake this project are not known for their impartiality in the GM debate. One of the directors is an active member of the extended Greenpeace team, campaigning against GM crops.
Spending producers’ tax dollars to assess approved GM foods which we have been consuming for a decade is questionable. What process was undertaken to ensure the scientific credentials and ‘independence’ of these researchers? How will the trial be designed? In what peer-reviewed scientific journal will the results be published? How much money is being committed to fund this trial?
Finally, one must question how such a study correlates with marketing questions around GM crops – the only grounds on which a moratorium can be established.
Paula Fitzgerald
Executive Director
Agrifood Awareness Australia Limited
Canberra
|
