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Biotech food seen hurting Canada, according to a report
(Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2003 -- CropChoice news) -- Globe and Mail, 08/28/03: OTTAWA -- A March, 2003, government paper prepared for the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food and marked "secret," obtained under the Access to Information law by Ottawa researcher Ken Rubin, was cited as saying that growing consumer anxiety over genetically engineered foods threatens to sideswipe Canada's multibillion-dollar agri-food industry, stating,
"Consumers are becoming more worried that they can't distinguish
between GE [genetically engineered] and non-GE products. These
concerns could precipitate a loss of confidence in the integrity of
the Canadian food system, which could be very disruptive to the
domestic system as well as Canada's ability to export to demanding
markets. There is a pressing need to immediately address these
concerns to maintain Canada's markets and to uphold the Canada
brand."
The story says that department officials were unavailable for comment
and it is unclear who wrote the report.
The story adds that the Canadian government is a major cheerleader
for
genetically engineered foods and has even launched a challenge before
the World Trade Organization, along with the Americans, to try to pry
open European markets for these products.
The paper was further cited as warning that Canada's regulatory
regime
has fallen behind in ensuring that the public and export markets
trust
genetically engineered products, and that Ottawa must realize that
the
majority of consumers at home and abroad are still leery of these
products, stating, "Biotechnology has made important advances, but
there is no broad market acceptance (domestic and international) of
genetically engineered (GE) products. The first generation of
products were commercially introduced with minimal consumer interest, but now these products are being more closely scrutinized at home
and abroad. Producers are becoming worried about losing markets and
losing choice over what they can produce. The production of GE canola
is currently adversely affecting the value of non-GE canola in some
markets."
Source: http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20030828/RAGRI/Business/Idx | |
