Tribunal Appeal Against 2,4 D-resistant Corn (GE-Free NZ Press Release)
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 in 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 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 to consumers 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
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
Séralini et al.: Genetically modified crops safety assessments: present limits and possible improvements. Environmental
Sciences Europe 2011 23:10.