[pf] unlabelled GMOs - go to jail, in Philippines

· I'm not sure of the status; on the one hand:
".. in the Philippines you may soon have to label it "genetically
engineered" or go to prison", but on the other hand:
"that was passed by the Philippine Congress Tuesday. The bill requires the
labeling of GMO derived food and food products."

· In New Zealand, a bill is what is debated and often modified, but it
becomes an Act once it is passed (and receives "Royal assent"); a law.

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http://ens.lycos.com/ens/aug2001/2001L-08-15-02.html
   is:
 . . . Philippine House Approves Prison Term for GMO-Labeling Violators

By Michael Bengwayan

MANILA, Philippines, August 15, 2001 (ENS) - If you are selling a product
that contains genetically modified organisms (GMO) in the Philippines you
may soon have to label it "genetically engineered" or go to prison. 

Up to 12 years in jail plus a $2,000 fine is the penalty for failing to
label that was passed by the Philippine Congress Tuesday. The bill requires
the labeling of GMO derived food and food products. 

Under the bill, violators could be imprisoned for not less than six years
but not more than 12 years. If the offender is an alien, he or she can be
immediately deported without need of any further proceedings. 

Congressman Del de Guzman of the city of Marikina introduced the
Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act, which demands that food and
food products containing genetically modified organisms or those produced
through genetic engineering technologies be labeled as such. 

"It came to my attention that there are many products available in local
markets that were sent to Hongkong for laboratory testing have been tested
positive for GMO contamination," de Guzman said in a press statement. 

Last year, the environmental advocacy group Greenpeace said that 11 popular
food products in the country were tested positive for GMO contamination.
The latest to be identified GMO positive is Nestle's infant product Cerelac
Wheat. 
In addition, GMO products like canola oil and potato chips have found their
way to the stomach of Philippine consumers. 

"The bill will give meaning to the right of our people to know if what they
eat have been modified by modern biotechnology," the congressman said.
"Consumers have the right to know the contents of the food items they buy
and then decide for themselves whether to buy or not, he added. 

In the Philippines, most buying consumers have little knowledge of GMO
issues, neither pro nor con. The debate regarding the safety of GMOs is on
the level of the academe, professionals and some safe food advocates. 

Agricultural professor Bony Ligat of the Benguet State University says,
"There have been so many discussions regarding GMOs. But these are mostly
within the walls of universities and colleges, he says, and not many
consumers and farmers are aware of the advantages and disadvantages. 

The stand of the Philippine government as well as the Department of
Agriculture is pro GMO. Only the non-government organizations have taken
the task to bare the loopholes of the current legislation, Ligat said. 

Some Benguet farmers, unknowingly, are now planting genetically engineered
vegetable crops. The province of Benguet produces almost 70 percent of the
vegetables in the Philippines. 

De Guzman is doubtful about the safety of GMOs and GMO products. "The
safety of GMOs has not been established conclusively. I felt it was
necessary to pass a law that will require all products to be appropriately
labeled." 
Last March, Senator Wigberto Tanada called for the Senate to require the
labeling of GMO products especially because many Muslims suspect some of
the food commodities they buy are laced with pork ingredients. Muslims, by
call of religion, do not eat pork. There are more than six million Muslims
in the island nation, among the roughly 80 million Philippinos. 

Critics of the labeling bill are mostly food manufacturers and importers.
"It will cause a drop in sales, no doubt. When consumers start questioning
your products, they hesitate to buy," a top salesman of Purefoods said on
condition of anonymity. Purefoods is one of the top five food makers and
importers in the country. 

"GMO products are being misunderstood. In fact, they ensure food security,"
he added. 

Congressman de Guzman replied, "Global food production is one and a half
times more than what is necessary to feed the burgeoning world population.
GMO food and food products is not needed, many food experts say." 

"Worse, the promise held out by GMOs may turn out to be more harmful to
human health than their perceived benefits," the congressman said. 

Already, de Guzman's bill has gathered popular support from NGOs advocating
for food self-reliance and sustainability. 

Members of MASIPAG, a nationwide organization of farmers and scientists,
and Sibol Agham at Teknolohiya, an NGO providing ecologically safe farming
technologies, have rallied in the streets to support the bill. 

Many countries like Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, New Zealand, Saudi
Arabia, Russia, 15 countries of the European Union, Mexico, Israel, Taiwan,
the Czech Republic and Norway have mandatory laws which call for labeling
of GMO products. 

Global companies are starting to remove genetically engineered ingredients
in their foods, particularly in USA, Canada, Japan, Brazil and Europe.
Large food supermarkets have cleared their shelves of "genetically-tinkered
food items," de Guzman said. 

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sent on by David.
David MacClement [davd @ ihug.co.nz] (remove spaces)
http://davd.tripod.com/GrRR-010810_titles.html#top
http://www.geocities.com/davd.geo/index.html#top
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