Dear Ms Er and the members of the Awareness Party
Thank you for your letter of 8th November 2012 regarding the safety and labelling of food, particularly food produced using gene technology.
As you are aware, New Zealand and Australia share the same standards for food labelling and composition. This arrangement was established in 1995 under the Agreement Between the Government of Australia and the Government of New Zealand Concerning a Joint Food Standards System (the Food Treaty). The Food Treaty and joint food standards system delivers considerable benefits to New Zealand. It allows us to pool our resources with Australia to secure the best quality risk assessment, and it facilitates the trade in food with our largest trading partner. The Food Treaty also provides that where there are exceptional circumstances (relating to health, safety, third country trade, environmental or cultural grounds) New Zealand can take a different course of action to Australia. As such, the Food Treaty and participation in the joint food standards system is firmly in New Zealands interests.
The application of the joint food standards system to the regulation of genetically modified (GM) foods was scrutinised by the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification in 2001. The Royal Commission supported the mandatory GM labelling requirements in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Food Standards Code), which were at the time proposed, and which are now in force. The Food Standards Code requires that foods and ingredients produced using gene technology be identified as such on the label if the final food contains novel DNA or protein, or has altered characteristics as a result of genetic modification. These requirements provide consumers with information to make decisions about their food purchases.
The Royal Commission also examined the pre-market assessment methods used by the then Australia New Zealand Food Authority, which is now called Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). FSANZ is a trans-Tasman agency funded by the Australian Federal and New Zealand Governments with offices in both Canberra and Wellington. The safety assessment approach applied by FSANZ is internationally accepted and has been adopted by many other countries including Canada and Japan, and the European Union. FSANZ employs world leading risk assessors and scientists who are expert in the interpretation of research data. With a particular sensitivity to study design, execution and reliability, FSANZ subjects studies provided by industry and by independent researchers to critical review. In its final report the Royal Commission concluded it was confident “the Authority’s assessment is independent and that by international standards its methodology is sound.”
FSANZ also monitors new research on GM foods and can review its previous safety assessments in light of any new data. FSANZ has considered the studies published in the International Journal of Biological Sciences that you note in your letter. FSANZ response to the studies is available on its website www.foodstandards.govt.nz in the ‘Consumer Information’ section.
Only approved GM foods are permitted for sale in New Zealand. Approvalls are only given following rigorous safety assessment. Approved GM foods are listed in Standard 1.5.2 Food Produced Using Gene Technology in the Food Standards Code. If you suspect that a food product contains an unapproved GM food or ingredient, you can make a complaint to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry(MAF)> See MAF’s FoodSmart website (http:/www.foodsmart.govt.nz/food-safety/food-complaints/making-a-food-complaint.htm) for further information about making food complaints.
Thank you again for your letter.
Yours sincerely
Hon Kate Wilkinson
Minister for Food Safety
Now that might make you feel safe BUT put in in the context of the following information from GE free NZ‘s post and please see some ACTION that you can do at the bottom of the page:
01/02/2012
Tribunal Appeal Against 2,4 D-resistant Corn
GE Free NZ in Food and Environment has applied to the Administrative Appeal Tribunal for a review of the decision by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) to release into the food chain corn and soy genetically engineered to survive 2,4 D herbicides.
GE-Free New Zealand submitted to FSANZ asking that further risk studies be conducted into the foods safety, due to the lack of vital safety information provided in the applications. A proposal to the Ministerial Council asking for a review of the agency decision on grounds of public health and safety was also submitted.
“This appeal to the Tribunal has not been made lightly,” says Claire Bleakley, president of GE-Free NZ in food and environment.
The GE corn and soy have been engineered with bacterial gene cassettes that have never been in the human food chain before. These engineered genes allow the plant to tolerate high levels of the toxic herbicide sprays 2,4-D and quizalofop-p-ethyl. This approval went forward before the maximum residue levels (MRL) for safety of the herbicide applications had been determined. Normally, when maximum residue levels are set studies are conducted to see what toxic effects there are and what levels are deemed safe.
“The decision by officials to ignore the ‘gaps’ in evidence raised in submissions, and instead proceed without any risk guidelines or data on the safety of the new genes or chemicals effects, is highly concerning for consumers, as the foods are not going to be labelled to provide information for enabling choice” Mrs. Bleakley says.
Independent studies, undertaken after previous insecticide and herbicide resistant GE crops have been approved, are observing unforeseen health effects of the pesticides on animal and human health.
“The process does not fulfill the public’s expectation of rigorous scientific assessment required of the Food Standards Authority,” says Jon Carapiet, spokesman for GE-Free NZ in food and environment.
“Where are the studies that would meet the international best-practice guidelines of Codex Alimentarius and considered necessary to test GMO food safety?”
“Health concerns raised in submissions must be considered in a measured and scientific way, yet no reply or validation of FSANZ’s failure to do so has been made.”
This intent of the legislation is clearly set out in the mission statement of Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ):
To protect, in collaboration with others, the health and safety of people in Australia and New Zealand through the maintenance of a safe food supply.
FSANZ Values are:
To be impartial, open and accountable;
To use the best available sciences and evidence to guide decision-making;
To seek, respect and be responsive to the issues raised by others;
FSANZ Responsibilities are
Provide information to consumers to enable better consumer choice
Undertake dietary exposure modeling and scientific risk assessments
Provide risk assessment advice on imported food
ENDS
Jon Carapiet 0210507681
Claire Bleakley 06 3089842/ 027 348 6731
References
Clair, É., et al. A glyphosate-based herbicide induces necrosis and apoptosis in mature rat testicular cells in vitro, and testosterone decrease at lower levels. Toxicol. in Vitro (2012), doi:10.1016/j.tiv.2011.12.009
Feb 12 2012: GE Free NZ has just had notification of a meeting date to argue if they have the legal right to challenge the decision by FSANZ (Food Safety Aust NZ) to approve 2,4D/quizalofop -p-ethyl. For more info see here: http://press.gefree.org.nz/press/20120201.htm
More info and action request from GE Free NZ:
We are trying to get Professor Gilles Eric Séralini to speak to New Zealanders on Radio and TV on the 27th Feb From Aussie.
Professor Gilles Eric Séralini works at the CRIIGEN (Committee for Research and Independent Information on Genetic …Engineering). Séralini analysed Monsanto’s data on three of their GM corn. He showed that although the feeding trials were only 90 days long the livers and kidneys of the animals eating the GM corn were affected. Video link here.
Seralini’s Australian tour is called “Everything you need to know about GM foods”. If you get the opportunity to attend, grab it!
Canberra – Tuesday 28 February 4-5pm Australian National University Emeritus Faculty, Molony room
Adelaide – Wednesday 29 February 6:46pm-8:15 Prof Gilles Eric Séralini and Dr Judy Carman (Institute of Health and Environmental Research, SA) : University of South Australia, HH3-09 Lecture Theatre (Hans Heysen Bldg),
Perth, Friday 2 March from 4pm Prof Gilles-Eric Séralini: Everything you need to know about GM foods, Lecture at Murdoch University
Margaret River, Saturday 3 March 5.30 – 7.30pm Professor Gilles-Eric Séralini, French chef, Jérôme Douzelet, and local restauranter Ian Parmeter for a Q&A session on genetically modified (GM) foods. CULLEN WINES, Willyabru, Margaret River.
Perth, Sunday 4 March 7-8.30pm, 1 Leake St (cnr Leake St & Stirling Hwy), Peppermint Grove WA 6011 – 5 minutes walk from Cottesloe train station
