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GMO News Update March 17, 2008 |
There have been 9 new articles posted in the GMO News Updates forum in the past week. ASGA responds to court challenge of Roundup Ready sugarbeets Once the word was out that the USDA and its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) had given the green light to Roundup Ready sugarbeets, it didn't take long for a coalition of organizations to seek a federal court injunction asking for a delay until further studies were completed. During the International Sugarbeet Institute, which was held in Grand Forks on March 5-6, Institute secretary Don Lilleboe read a statement from the American Sugarbeet Growers Associa-tion in response to the recently filed lawsuit.
A resolution urging a hold on research involving genetic modification of taro was advanced Wednesday by the County Council Public Works and Facilities Committee. “It is time for us to put the brakes on,” said Council Member Mike Victorino, co-chairman of the Public Works Committee.
Rudd faces joint anti-GM campaign (Australia) THE Federal Government faces a concerted campaign from a new coalition of health, environment and farm groups to ban genetically modified crops and foods until they are proved safe beyond reasonable doubt. The fresh attempt to exert political pressure at the national level follows a controversial decision by Victoria and NSW to join Queensland in ending their bans on GM crops. Thai jasmine rice free of GMOs, says foreign trade chief Foreign Trade Department Director-General Apiradee Tantraporn on Thursday denied a report that some of the country's trademark Thai jasmine rice is produced based on genetically modified organisms (GMOs), saying the report is totally groundless. She said WTO does not require member countries to make counter tests on the origin of products, including Thai jasmine rice. Genetically modified potatoes will not be cultivated commercially in the European Union this season. Voting members of the EU Commission have delayed approval of the "Amflora" variety. Effectively, this results in the prohibition of its planting in 2008. The Amflora potato was developed by BASF and an application for its approval for cultivation was submitted in 2003. Subsequently, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) conducted a scientific safety assessment. Upon the conclusion of tests in 2005, the EFSA declared the Amflora line to be identical to conventional potatoes with regard to its effect on the environment. U.S. organic food industry fears GMO contamination Widespread contamination of U.S. corn, soybeans and other crops by genetically engineered varieties is threatening the purity of organic and natural food products and driving purveyors of such specialty products to new efforts to protect their markets, industry leaders said this week. A range of players, from dairy farmers to natural food retailers, are behind an effort to introduce testing requirements and standards for certification aimed at keeping contamination at bay. That goal is rapidly becoming harder, however, as planting of biotech corn, soybeans, and other crops expands across the United States. "Now there is a real shortage of organic grain for animal husbandry and dairy operations," said Organic Consumers Association national director Ronnie Cummins. "People are having to be real careful." GM food products sold without proper labels may be banned (Qatar) GENETICALLY modified (GM) food products that do not have labels indicating details of the modification process may be banned in Qatar, according to reports published in the Arabic press. Headed by SCENR’s chairman Khalid bin Ghanem al-Ali, the committee includes the director general of Qatar’s board for standards and specifications Dr Mohamed bin Saif al-Kuwari as vice chairman and the director of the department of natural reserves in the SCENR, Ghanem Abdullah Mohamed as member and co-ordinator. Qatar plans law to check entry of GM products Qatar is giving final touches to a law to check the entry of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) into the country and make labelling of GMOs products mandatory giving consumers the right to pick their choice of GMO or non-GMO products. This means the law will allow people to enjoy the benefits of biotechnology while avoiding its possible risks. Al Abdullah said the proposed Biosafety Law was prepared on the basis of Cartegena Protocol, to which Qatar is a party. “The protocol will enable everyone to enjoy the benefits of biotechnology while avoiding unnecessary risks,” he said.
FSA consults with industry on Chinese GM rice rules (United Kingdom) UK-based processors are being consulted over plans by the country's Food Standards Agency for mandatory testing of Chinese rice imports over fears of contamination from unapproved Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). Under the ruling Chinese rice imports entering the EU must now have either an official or accredited analytical lab report, or analysis from relevant member state food authorities at the port of entry, indicating the absence of BT63.
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