GMO’s and the Precautionary Principle

1. GMO’s and the Precautionary Principle

2. How are genetically modified foods regulated in Canada? • The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is responsible for the control of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in Canada • CFIA criteria that must be met before a GM food can be marketed include: biological data which characterizes the genetic change; composition of the novel food compared to non-modified counterparts; nutritional information for the novel food compared to non-modified counterparts; potential for toxicity; and potential for causing an allergic reaction (substantial equivalence) • Once CFIA is satisfied that requirements have been met, the food is approved for consumers • Right now, Canada has no mandatory labeling policy for GM foods • The CFIA has approved 51 “novel foods”, including corn, (types resistant to corn borers and herbicides); canola, (varieties resistant to herbicides); potato (varieties resistant to Colorado potato beetles); tomato (varieties that ripen slowly); squash; soybean; sugarbeet; flax; and cottonseed oil

3. Precautionary Principle • When there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent harms • Current laws seem to assume the reverse: People and businesses are free to act as they wish until there is incontrovertible scientific proof of human harms (eg. Cigarettes, acid rain, bisphenol A, MMT, Lead) • Eg. In Canada when businesses introduce a new substance they are only obliged to provide a basic “package” of information about it and then it is up to CFIA or Health Canada to carry out any assessment of risks to human health • 1000s of substances have been introduced in last decade alone, most without any significant testing of environmental effects

4. An Absence of Evidence • It has been long understood by logicians that “an absence of evidence” does not necessarily indicate “evidence of absence” • However, it is scientific virtue not to believe any claim unless it is backed up by significant scientific evidence—and the public has largely come to accept this epistemological standard • Many ordinary people, therefore, have come to rely on scientific experts to inform them about harms, but can and should scientists be relied on to provide this service?

5. Mandate of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada • Provides information, research and technology, and policies and programs to achieve an environmentally sustainable agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector, a competitive agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector that proactively manages risk, and an innovative agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector

6. Knowledge Monopolies? • Can the scientists who are both the developers and watchdogs of new biological technologies be relied on to keep us safe? • Is the judgment of Thamus applicable—that the inventors of new technologies are often the least likely to be highly sensitive to potential harms? • GMOs: Labeling? Moratorium on commercialization? Stricter controls?