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Posted
25thOct 2001
GE FreeNZ Touchstone For Democracy
Australia NZ Food Authority (ANZFA), like
most trans-national bodies, was
setup to allow size to matter, a bad thing when you're part
of a small
country. Such is the essential reason for the existence of the
World Bank,
WTO, UN. Now ANZFA has done exactly what it was setup to do,
serve the
interests of its initiators the food and biotech industry. ANZFA
has
allowed the food industry to get away with a one year 'transitional
arrangement' for long shelflife foods that contain GM ingredients
- without
labelling.
It appears that most foods needing labels would start carrying
them after a
few months - as the food manufactured after 7 Dec 2001 starts
to flow
through to shop shelves. However there are some products - how
many its
hard to say - that will remain unlabelled on shelves for up
to 1 year from
7 Dec 2001.
From 7 December 2001, all food containing novel genetic material
or protein
in the final product must have its GM status identified on the
package or,
in the case of unpackaged foods, near the food. NZ and Australian
Government Ministers discussed, and agreed to (read forced down
the throat
of single NZ Minister) a transitional arrangement for those
genetically
modified foods which may be on the shelf prior to 7 December
2001 when the new labelling requirement comes into effect. All
products
manufactured on or after 7 December must be labelled.
Open Letter Counters Closed Minds
Physicians and Scientists for Responsible Genetics New Zealand
invite you
to sign their Open Letter to the New Zealand Government. It
is URGENT. The
NZ government will make its decision on Monday 29th as to whether
or not it
extends the moratorium on the release of GE organisms into the
environment
and on field trials.
Anyone may sign. We have done this in recognition of the work
of many
individuals and other NGOs world wide, and so that the public
may have a
voice not generally available to them. Therefore, we appreciate
it being
circulated widely.
The Letter is viewable and signable online at www.psrg.org.nz/op_let.html
Your help in this would be much appreciated. Many thanks. Jean
Anderson,
Secretary PSRG.
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