Genetically Modified Organisms

This is, most definitely, a consumer issue. In line with consumers' rights to be informed, to choose and to be heard, we must find out what it's about, make a choice and speak up. Environmentalist organisations and public interest groups, including consumers' associations all over the world, have been actively protesting against Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) for years.

Indeed, in 2000, Consumers International, the global federation of some 250 consumer organisations in 111 countries, adopted the theme "Consumer action on genetically modified food" on World Consumer Rights Day, March 15, as its theme of the year.

Consumers International issued a kit, "Our Food, Whose Choice? Consumers Take Action on Genetically Modified Food!" In other parts of the world, Consumers International members saw to it that consumer concerns about genetic modification were heard loud and clear on March 15, 2000.

Now Brazil intends to give the green light to the replication of modified seeds. The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies intends to approve, by December 14, legislation which will authorise companies licensed by Monsanto in Brazil to replicate modified seeds for internal use and export. This would legalise what has been going on.

If you do not agree with the free commercialisation of GMOs you can act now and send the following petition, which has the approval of Consumers International, to the Brazilian Congressmen:

We members of the social movement organised internationally, from different parts of the world, ask the Brazilian Congressmen who are now discussing a national Law on Biosafety to take into account:

1. that Brazil will become by the end of 2003 the largest world producer and exporter of soy due to the country's genetically modified organisms free condition;

2. the scientific principle of precaution, already adopted by the Constitution of the French Republic, when dealing with such strategic subject;

3. that in any place of the world, neither defenders of the transgênicos nor its opponents, have yet found conclusive scientific proof on the safety of those organisms (GMOs) for consumers and for the environment;

4. that the Brazilian biological diversity is possibly the largest of the planet, and this demands effective mechanisms to guarantee its integrity against the contamination by non natural organisms.

Yours,

You will find more details, including the e-mail addresses of the Brazilian Congressmen, on Malta's Consumers' Association Website http://www.camalta.org. Act now!