You are herePolicy B2: Genetically Engineered Organisms in Agriculture
Policy B2: Genetically Engineered Organisms in Agriculture
1. genetically engineered organisms (GEOs), their products, and the chemical inputs used to manage them may pose threats to natural and agricultural ecosystems.
2. the precautionary principle must be applied to the use of genetically engineered organisms and technologies.
3. there should be agreed benchmarks, standards and quality assurance systems that mandate top quality, peer reviewed scientific evidence as the only basis for assessing GEOs.
4. assessments of GEOs have to be broad, independent and scientifically robust, so that any negative effects are detected proactively.
5. as living organisms are not inventions, patents on life are unethical and are against the public interest.
6. GEOs with sterile ‘terminator’ seeds, that will not germinate if saved for future planting, must never be released.
7. farmers and consumers have a right to grow and consume food that is not genetically engineered.
8. people have a right to know if food contains GEOs.
9. a moratorium on the release of GEOs into the environment until there is an adequate scientific understanding of their long term impact on environmental and human health.
10. mandatory labelling of all foods containing any ingredient, additives, processing aid or other constituent produced using GEOs.
11. a ban on patenting of living organisms and naturally occurring DNA code sequence information.
12. a strengthened, transparent, precautionary regulatory and monitoring system which prevents contamination by GEOs.
13. impact assessment research criteria and benchmarked processes that ensure GEOs are safe for the environment, and that derived foods are safe for human consumption.
14. sign and ratify the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (on the transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms) so that Australia is able to fully meet its obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
15. revise the Commonwealth Gene Technology Act 2000 in order to enact a five-year moratorium on the release of any GEO into the Australian environment for trial or commercial purposes, and review and amend the Act to:
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include rigorous application of the precautionary principle on general release of GEOs;
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restructure the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator to ensure future mandatory notification, assessment, licensing and monitoring of all uses of gene technology, without exception;
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ensure that the assessment process is objective and fair, and is by independent scientists and community representatives;
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ensure that the assessment process examines the potential benefits as well as the risks of any proposal to release GEOs; and
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require economic, marketing and ethical factors to be part of the impact assessment process.
16. where possible, remove all GEOs from the Australian environment and food supply while the moratorium is in place.
17. require mandatory and accurate labelling of all foods containing any ingredient, additives, processing aid or other constituent produced using GEOs.
18. require certification of all imported seed, food and other products for evidence of presence of GEOs and ensure facilities exist for stringent testing.
19. ensure the availability of accurate, complete and, high quality information to farmers and farmers’ representative groups on environmental, economic and social issues relating to genetic engineering.
20. shift agricultural research and development to focus on sustainable methods of production rather than genetic engineering.
21. fund independent scientific research to investigate the risks, hazards and costs of GEOs (including the associated use of agrichemicals) to human health, the environment and the economy.
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| B2 Genetically Engineered Organisms in Agriculture June 2008.pdf | 68.62 KB |
