----- forwarded message ----- Date: Sat, 08 Sep 2001 11:14:11 +0200 From: secr <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Thai GMO-label law roasted ----- forwarded message ----- Subject: Thai GMO-label law roasted Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2001 19:34:02 -0500 From: "Mark Ritchie" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] WTO Activist ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Posted: 09/06/2001 By [EMAIL PROTECTED] ============================================================ Copyright 2001 The Nation Publishing Group The Nation (Thailand) September 6, 2001, Thursday LENGTH: 369 words HEADLINE: Draft GMO-label law roasted BYLINE: The Nation. BODY: Draft GMO-label law roasted Consumers and interest groups yesterday harshly criticised the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s draft regulations on the labelling of food products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for benefiting manufacturers more than consumers. Bantoon Sethasiroj, who identified himself as a consumer, pointed out to a public hearing on GMO labelling held yesterday by the FDA that the draft covered only corn, soybeans and products made from them. But there were many other GM foods available, for example, potato chips, which have not been tested yet as being safe to eat. "The media reported that some brands of potato chips were found to contain GMOs, but they are not on the list in the [FDA's] draft to be labelled. Does the FDA want to allow food items that have no guarantee of being safe to eat to reach consumers' hands?" he asked. FDA secretary general Vichai Chokviwat said other products would be added to the list later. The purpose of the labels was to "inform" consumers, not to "warn" them that GM foods were harmful to human health, he said. The draft regulations require all food products containing GM corn or GM soybeans as one of their three major ingredients, that also make up 5 per cent of total ingredients, to be labelled as "genetically modified corn/soybeans" or "food products containing GM corn/soybeans". Food products sold by small- and medium-scale manufacturers, such as street vendors, directly to consumers are excluded from the draft regulations. Auiporn Suthanyakorn, from Greenpeace Southeast Asia, said all food products should be labelled, no matter how little GM ingredients they contained. And the draft should not only cover corn and soybeans, she said. Angkana K Srisuwana, assurance supervisor of Malee Sampran Plc, a manufacturer and importer of canned fruit, said the labelling law would not affect the firm much since it applied to only domestically produced raw materials. The FDA's Vichai said all opinions aired at the forum would be noted together with survey forms filled in by the public. About 10,000 forms have been distributed throughout the country. Pennapa Hongthong THE NATION ======* ====== * ====== * ====== * ====== * ====== [EMAIL PROTECTED] is a non-commercial, no-fee information source. Information is provided by and at the sole discretion of Richard Ellinghuysen. No warrantee is made or implied regarding the accuracy or completeness of any information forwarded. For verification and authentication of any data received, please refer to the origin of the material as noted in the material itself. If you prefer not to receive this information, please send an email and ask to be removed from this list. Best wishes!
