NFU Concerned Over GMO Rice Approval
For Immediate Release: May 21, 2007
Contact: Liz Friedlander, 202-314-3191WASHINGTON (May 21, 2007) – National Farmers Union expressed great concern today over the approval by the Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to allow Ventria Bioscience to plant genetically modified pharma rice in Kansas. NFU said the decision poses a potential risk to the American food supply.
“America’s farmers have suffered the economic consequences of two major instances when unapproved genetically-modified rice entered the food supply in the past year,” NFU President Tom Buis said.
Buis said NFU is concerned Ventria Bioscience’s proposal did not specifically address the necessary safety precautions for transit of the rice. He added that a significant risk may exist to all crops and soils neighboring the transportantion route.
Despite Kansas’ recent devastating tornadoes and disastrous flooding, part of APHIS’ response to official comments was that “extreme weather events are unlikely to occur in the area of the field trial.”
“Until USDA and FDA improve oversight and regulation of pharma crops, NFU will remain extremely concerned about pharma commodity production based on economic, environmental, food safety and liability risks to both producers and consumers,” Buis said.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the rice-grown drugs due to potentially hazardous side effects. This lack of approval means Ventria Bioscience does not have a sufficient market, thus the production of this crop appears to provide no benefit to Kansas farmers or the economy.
