DID YOU KNOW?
Around the world, governments, regions, local authorities, major food brands, farmers and consumers are banning controversial genetically modified (GM) food, animal feed, seeds, crops and livestock amid growing scientific evidence of health and environmental problems, insurance companies' refusal to cover the risks, and widespread consumer rejection.
Food industry observers say the global demand for GM-free seeds, animal feed and food may soon outstrip supply due to widespread GM contamination of farmland in the USA, Argentina, Canada and China. This gives Ireland an opportunity to leverage our world famous green image and corner our share of the growing market for the safe GM-free food which some 80% of EU consumers now demand.
France, Austria, Denmark, Greece, Luxembourg, and Portugal oppose GM food. Brands which already guarantee their products GM free in Germany and many other EU countries include Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Kellogs, Heinz, Campbells, General Mills, Kraft, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, and Sara Lee and Carlsberg beer. Guinness should follow suit and declare our national beverage GM free! Marks & Spencer is the first food retailer on this island to guarantee its products free of GM ingredients. Euro-Toques Ireland / The European Commission of Chefs (which represents 150 leading restaurants in Ireland) and Ruaidhri Deasy, Deputy President of the Irish Farmers Association, are expected to voice their concerns about the introduction of GM food and crops at the Forging a GM Policy for Ireland workshop today.
On Earth Day, 22 April 2004, the writer JP Donleavy declared his cattle farm near Mullingar to be the first GM-free zone in Ireland. This is expected to herald similar declarations by farmers and landowners North and South of the border, as a precautionary step against GM contamination. 22 EU countries already have GM-free zones. Rome and Munich recently became GM-free cities. There are over 1,500 GM-free Communes in France. In the UK, Wales, the Lake District, and 40 councils are going GM-free. Entire regions are doing likewise, including Tuscany and Piedmonte in Italy, and the whole of Upper and Lower Austria. 85% of French farmers refuse GM crops and the majority of EU consumers (90% in the UK) reject GM food. Insurance companies rate GM risks like thalidomide or asbestos and refuse cover for GM disasters.
Keeping Ireland GM free is a win-win strategy for all stakeholders. It will enhance the economic value of our food and farm sectors, boost food exports, grow our reputation as a leading eco-tourist destination, and protect our national food security, the environment, consumers and future generations.
So why is Ireland using its EU Presidency to try to end the ban on GM food and patented GM crops not just in Ireland but throughout Europe? Ireland was one of only 4 EU countries prepared to vote in favour of legalising the first GM food when the subject was to be decided on 10 October last year, despite thousands of emails sent to TD and MEPs asking the government to vote against. When the vote was finally taken in December, Ireland's pro-GM food position was overruled by a qualified majority of EU governments. But it was an Irishman, EU Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner David Byrne, who then convinced the Commission to legalise it anyway, in direct opposition to EU Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fishler and Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstr–m. Another Irishman, Barry McSweeney (the first director of Bio-Research Ireland in 1987 and current head of the EU Joint Research Centre) is criticised for giving GM food and crops the official EU stamp of scientific approval, despite the total lack of any long-term health studies, and substantial evidence of health and ecological risks of GM technology as published by the Independent Science Panel on GM. Since Ireland's GM policy was formulated without the due public consultation process required by EU Directive 2001/18/EC it is now high time for a national citizen-led discussion on the subject.
If GM crops are legalised on this island - as already planned in the North - the decision will be irreversible as they can never be recalled after their release. The resulting contamination of conventional crops and livestock would cause consumers to lose their fundamental right to choose safe GM free food. GM pollution would also damage Irish dairy, beef and lamb exports. Farmers would lose the right to plant their own seeds ó and face additional burdens of bureaucracy, labelling, traceability, liability, and contamination lawsuits. This policy makes no sense. Instead of betting our food security on spurious GM safety claims that do not stand up to scientific scrutiny, we should simply choose to keep Ireland GM-free.
The Protocol on Biosafety recognises Ireland's legal right to conserve its GM-free status. EU Directive 2001/18/EC also gives local authorities and landowners the right to set up GM-free zones.
To prevent the GM invasion before it is too late, stakeholders now need to act quickly and decisively to forge a sustainable GM-free policy for the whole island of Ireland that is good for business, farmers, consumers, and the environment.
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