Thursday, 25 September 2003

Brazil's Vice President José Alencar has announced an imminent decree ending a ban on genetically modified (GM) crops. The Federal Regional Court of Brasilia recently overturned a ruling that allowed the growing and marketing of Monsanto GM soybeans.

The decree will extend permission for the sale of GM soybeans from this year's harvest to include planting starting next month, but is also likely to signal legislation permanently enabling the planting and sale of GM crops. While GM soybean had been banned, many farmers in the Southern states were known to be sowing transgenic seeds acquired illegally from Argentina. Up to 30% of the country's crop is estimated to be GM.

Brazil is the world's second-largest producer of soybeans.

Related news is available at http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/scitech/SciTechRepublish_953172.htm .

Because of European fears of genetically modified crops, and the control exercised over growers by a few large buyers, there is currently no engineered potato in commercial production anywhere.

Certain NGO recommended to the Advisory body of the Czech ministry of environment to follow the moratorium imposed by several Member states on registration of new modified crops. Following report show how "wise" such advise was. Entire article ...

It will operate as a part of the Czech Medical Society of J.E.Purkyne. Its first board was elected at the foundation meeting. The main objective of the newly founded Society will be to promote conditions for the development of scientific-research activity in the area of gene therapy and for the development of clinic studies. Furthermore, the task of the Society will be the promotion of information about gene therapy among professional and non-professional public.

by V. Vonka (Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion), Prague, May 2002,
synopsis by T. Adamec for the web site of the Biotrin Association

It is possible to cover all the procedures that use transfer of genetic material into cells of a patient for therapeutic purposes with the term gene therapy (GT). Theoretically GT methodology is applicable whenever molecular nature of a disease is known. As information on molecular mechanism of pathogenesis increases, also the scope of GT indication grows.Entire article ...

Senate Rejects Moratorium on GM Crops in Switzerland.

CROATIA SHOULD BAN IMPORT OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED PRODUCTS

Entire article ...

STRASBOURG, France, March 15 2001 (Reuters)

The European Parliament declared support for biotechnology on Thursday, but stopped short of calling for the European Union to lift its ban on new genetically modified (GM) food strains. Entire article ...

Genetically modified animal feed: Replacing myth with fact

Entire article ...

Friends of the Earth is calling for an immediate ban on the outdoor testing of genetically modified oilseed rape and maize after shop-bought honey was found to contain GM pollen. The honey was purchased in an area where GM crops had been grown last year. Entire article ...

In the discussion concerning GMO everybody is referring to the ”voice of public”, however, exact data are available what in fact this voice is saying. Therefore the Gallup Poll that can be found in full on the address

www.gallup.com/poll/indextest.asp

is very instructive. Only 10 of American have heard “great deal” about ”modified food” and 27 % believe is does and 53 % it does not poses serious hazard to consumers. The rest is unsure. About 80 % consider food in groceries and 69 % in restaurants as safe. The confidence to governmental institutions such as FDA is high in 15 %, 61 % ”fair”, 19 % ”not much” and 5 % not at all. The application of biotechnology in food production supported 51 % and opposed 41 % of Americans. In general approach to biotechnology methods is 9 % strongly, 42 % moderately supportive and 16 % strongly and 25 % moderately against them. Strong opposition is mostly among low income, low education sector.

Surprisingly, two thirds of Americans are willing to pay more in order to have labeled genetically modified food.