[searcabic] NEWS FLASH: Agri experts want anti-GMO ordinance revised

[SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center]

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*Posted 04 June 2009*

*AGRI EXPERTS WANT ANTI-GMO ORDINANCE
REVISED*<http://www.bic.searca.org/news/2009/jun/phi/03.html>
*by George M. de la Cruz
03-June-2009 Sun Star Bacolod
Source:
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/agri-experts-want-anti-gmo-ordinance-revised
*<http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/agri-experts-want-anti-gmo-ordinance-revised>

AGRICULTURE experts and scientists Tuesday unanimously declared that
genetically-modified organisms (GMO) are safe for both humans and animals.

However, there is still a possibility that GMO could still cause "risks"
which Dr. Nina G. Gloriani theorized would only be "on a very low level."

Gloriani opined that there is no exact definition for "safe" but stressed
that "anything that has the affinity to thrive with ecology would always
adapt to it on a certain level and strength."

The group that presented scientific explanations and features of GMO in
Tuesday's seminar on biotechnology and biosafety at the Business Inn, in
Bacolod City, recommended the need to modify or revise some provisions of
Provincial Ordinance 007-2007, which bans the entry of GMO-infected agri
products into the province.

But livestock, poultry raisers and grain growers, who were present during
the seminar, remained vehement in opposing said ordinance. The provincial
government, through the ad hoc committee, is presently studying
possibilities whether to lift or not the ban it imposed on GMO-infected corn
feeds.

Provincial Board Members Patrick Lacson and Enrique Miguel Lacson, who chair
the committees on commerce, trade and industry and on food security,
respectively, represented Gov. Isidro Zayco in Tuesday's seminar.

Dr. Randy A. Hautea, coordinator and director for Global and SEAsia Center,
International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications
(ISAAA), opined that those provisions, which are not consistent with its
implementation need to be revised or modified.

"To ban the entry of any agri-product believed to be GMO-infected is not as
fair to the farmers (considering) the fact that the issue on GMO is not only
exclusive to agriculture but in ornamentals, food production, among others,
and those that has the affinity to biodiversity. Ban per se is selective and
in the case of Negros, appears to have exclusivity, making some of the
provisions of the ordinance inconsistent, which actually needed to be
revised," Hautea said.

He noted that if agri products are to be banned, then a ban on pesticides
will also follow because it is as well genetically-engineered and the
farmers are the group of people who would most likely suffer the
consequence.

Findings on the studies conducted by the Department of Agriculture (DA),
also with the Pontifical Academy for Sciences, proved that GMO is
"praiseworthy for improving the lives of the poor, especially the farmers
group."

"We don't allow, as a rule of law, neither tolerate those that has a bad
effect to biodiversity," said Dr. Saturnina Halos, chair of the Department
of Agriculture Biotech Advisory Team.

Distinctions between a GM-positive and non-GM organisms were also presented
wherein those which are positive were said to be more cost-effective, safe
for human consumption, and benefit human health, could help the developing
world, cut down on pesticide and herbicide use, and help preserve natural
habitats while those which are negative could increase herbicide and
pesticide use, could damage non-GM farmers, have unpredictable health risks,
won't help feed the developed world, and mainly benefits big biotechnology
companies.

Non-GM corn is infested with corn borers and is contaminated with bacteria
and fungi. These fungi produce aflatoxins which can cause or associated with
liver cancer, the presentation showed.

"This corn may have also been treated with chemical pesticides but not
protected against corn borer; and farmers are exposed to chemical pesticides
with ill-effects on human health," Hautea said.

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