GM Seeds: Biowarfare in Brazil

[chlamor]

GM Seeds: Biowarfare in Brazil
www.globalresearch.ca   2  April 2005

The URL of this article is: http://globalresearch.ca/articles/GMF504A.html

GM-FREE BRAZIL Periodical news & analysis of the Campaign For a GM-Free Brazil Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, April 1st, 2005 Bulletin #14

Biosafety Bill signed. Battle over transgenic continues

After the law comes into force, it begins the time when the society must stay alert for the composition of the new CTNBIo


Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had just signed the Biosafety Bill establishing the regulatory process for the approval of biotech crops. The battle over transgenics will continue, though, through the mobilization of environmentalists and consumer defense groups. The bill is also being analysed to check potential channels for legal action.

The new Biosafety Law, signed on March 24, will replace the one adopted in 1995 and will make it easier to acquire authorization for planting genetically modified crops, as well as authorizing embryonic stem cell research for treatment purposes. The combination of these two rather disparate issues in a single piece of legislation reflects the tortuous road traveled by the Bill.

According to the public letter released by non-governmental organizations, criticizing the act of the President, the inclusion of research with embryonic stem cells on the text of the law was a “smoke screen” used in favor of the transgenic lobbying campaign, in a way to distract the public opinion on the implications of GMOs.

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Even the Brazilian Society for the Science Progress (SBPC, in Portuguese) sent an alert to the public, recommending “precaution” on the commercial utilization of GMOs and stem cells. According to Ennio Candotti, president of SBPC, the society is in favor of the research with genetic modified crops, but manifests carefulness in regard to its liberation for commercial use. “Each case must be carefully analysed, taking into account the potential risks to the environment and human health”, said Candotti.

[FloridaPat]

1. Dumb & dummer. When in the last 200 years has any change in

the food supply been for the benefit of the consumer?