GE-Free NZ in food and environment are asking that the New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council and Health Minister immediately review the Food Standards Australia New Zealand approval to release 2, 4-D corn line DAS-40278-9 into the food supply.
This GE corn event is totally new for consumers, it has caused concerning and deleterious effects even is very small doses in animal studies, and it has not been tested on humans for safety.
It appears that FSANZ have taken advantage of every loophole and gap in safety regulations to avoid having to fulfil its duty to protect the health of the Australian and New Zealand consumer.
The engineering of corn to contain foreign DNA from bacterial genes to withstand high levels of the herbicide 2, 4-D and glufosinate does not require labeling unless over the threshold of regulated detectable DNA levels.
It appears that regardless of the 90% of consumers who raised valid health concerns in submissions, these issues have not been addressed by the Trans Tasman body.
�Instead of hanging on the coat tails of Australia it is time that the New Zealand Minister stood up for the consumer and rejected yet more toxic-spray GE food ingredients,� says Claire Bleakely, president of GE-Free NZ in Food and Environment.
FSANZ went ahead with the approval even though there is an absence of essential safety data about the acceptable maximum residue levels (MRL) of the herbicides. FSANZ Final Approval states-
�For GM applications, the process of amending MRLs is quite separate from the safety considerations included in the Safety Assessment and, at the time of preparation of this Approval Report still needs to be undertaken with regard to corn line DAS-40278-9�.
�In essence FSANZ are saying that regardless of whether the safety levels of 2,4-D are set at zero percent, they would still approve it as safe for us to eat,� says Claire Bleakley.
�This means FSANZ have assessed and approved two unknown new proteins and a chemical cocktail of 2, 4-D and glufosinate, never before eaten by animals or humans, without even considering if the chemicals are safe for human consumption."
"This is bizarre and shows that the FSANZ mission is not about protection of consumers but self-preservation when threatened by the prospect of the WTO and industry suing them for not approving this toxic cocktail corn.�
�This is a travesty and must be challenged. We cannot carry on making our food supply even more toxic for people now, or for future generations. Our government Minister must take action and call a review of the crazy decision to approve this new GE corn�.
ENDS:
Claire Bleakley - 06 3089842 / 027 3486731
Jon Carapiet - 0210507681
References:
Ministerial Council Review http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/foodstandards/changingthecode/ministerialcouncilre1834.cfm
Application A1042 - Food derived from herbicide-tolerant corn line DAS-40278-9Approval Report - 19 August 2011 http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/_srcfiles/A1042%20GM%20Corn%20DAS-40278-9%20AppR%20FINAL.pdf
For GM applications, the process of amending MRLs is quite separate from the safety
considerations included in the Safety Assessment and, at the time of preparation of this
Approval Report still needs to be undertaken with regard to corn line DAS-40278-9.
Variations to both Standard 1.5.2 and Standard 1.4.2/Maximum Residue Limits of
Agricultural Compounds, if appropriate, would need to be gazetted before food derived from
corn line DAS-40278-9 could legally be sold in Australia or New Zealand .
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