THE AGE
http://www.theage.com.au/daily/990221/news/news12.html
Sunday 21 February 1999
Sick used in gene testing
By FIA CUMMING
and SIMON CRITTLE
Seriously ill cancer patients were used as guinea pigs, without
approval from scientific authorities, in an experiment involving a
mutated virus with unknown long-term effects.
The case, at the University of Newcastle, New South Wales, five years
ago, is one of nine recorded breaches of national guidelines on the
creation and release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
The guidelines, designed to stop GMOs escaping into the environment,
have been broken in the race by scientists to exploit the new
technology.
The lapses in bio-security are detailed in a report by the GeneEthics
Network, an offshoot of the Australian Conservation Foundation.
It says it is worried that the Federal Government is rushing to
promote unproven modified plants, animals and viruses and ignoring
the potential hazards.
Others breaches include the production of transgenic pigs containing
a human gene to be sold for pork and bacon.
The report is based on the records of the Government's ``genetic
manipulation advisory committee''.
It was sent last week to delegates in Colombia discussing a new
international protocol on living GMOs.
Australian delegates at the meeting voted with the United States for
controls on trade in GMOs, but not for labelling, and for food
products to be excluded from the regulations.
Australia's ambassador for the environment, Mr Ralph Hillman, said
GMOs were mostly safe and did not need special trade arrangements, as
was the case with hazardous chemicals.
He also voted against provisions that would make the companies
supplying GMOs legally liable for accidents or unforeseen disasters.
The Government takes the position that GMOs will become a significant
growth industry and much future agricultural trade will involve GMOs.
GeneEthics Network's director, Mr Bob Phelps, said consumers and
their families would be horrified if they knew what the Government
was doing behind their backs.
Mr Phelps said the litany of breaches showed reliance on national
guidelines like Australia's was a recipe for ruin. Labelling would
allow consumers to make their own decisions, he said.
Greens Senator Bob Brown said the Government was driven by the profit
motive without considering the long-term costs.
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