World Consumer Rights Day GMOs and Consumer Protection Mazhar Siraj Research Fellow Consumer Rights Commission

1. World Consumer Rights Day �GMOs and Consumer Protection� Mazhar Siraj Research Fellow Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP) CRCP House, IslamabadMarch 15, 2005

2. Mazhar_CRCP_WCRD2005 2 What are GMOs? Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are animals, plants and microorganisms, which have been added with a genetic material from any other organism through a technology called �genetic engineering�. Genetic engineering is a means to achieve new and desired properties in organisms. The products derived/manufactured from GMOs are called GM products e.g. GM food.

3. Mazhar_CRCP_WCRD2005 3 Currently Available GMOs Few multinational biotech companies holding the GM market (Monsanto, Novartis, Syngenta, Dupont, Bayer) Main producers: USA, Argentina, Canada, Brazil 35 GMOs on market in European Union GM food: tomato, potato, soybean, corn, wheat

4. Mazhar_CRCP_WCRD2005 4 GMOs in Pakistan Black market of GMO seeds (corn, wheat, cotton, vegetables) Bt Cotton smuggled from Australia in hand luggage GMOs prepared in Pakistan: Tomato, sugarcane, soybean, cotton.

5. Mazhar_CRCP_WCRD2005 5 Consumer Rights at Stake (I) Right to basic needs -food security -monopoly over seeds Right to safety -health risks -anti-biotic resistance Right to representation -bio-safety guidelines Right to redress -Traceability -accountability of multinationals

6. Mazhar_CRCP_WCRD2005 6 Consumer Rights at Stake (II) Right to Information -labeling Right to Consumer education -awareness -scientific information Right to Healthy Environment -threat to biodiversity

7. Mazhar_CRCP_WCRD2005 7 Food Security Control of multinationals on food crop production (currently, 4 companies controlling 90% of GM crops area) Change in food composition (e.g. GM soy consumed in US has a protein never part of human food) GM food may be culturally unacceptable

8. Mazhar_CRCP_WCRD2005 8 Safety GM food can cause unpredicted allergies (e.g. soybeans with Brazil-nut gene; Philippine case) Antibiotic resistance marker genes in GM food (e.g. maize engineered by Swiss Novartis) Production of pesticides within GM food (e.g. GM corn with genes capable of producing pesticides)

9. Mazhar_CRCP_WCRD2005 9 Safety Studies (I) In early 1990s, rats fed on GM food in USA. Developed stomach lesions. 7 out of 40 died within 2 weeks. FDA concluded that this did not provide �demonstration of reasonable certainty of no harm�.

10. Mazhar_CRCP_WCRD2005 10 Safety Studies (II) UK-funded study; rats fed on GM potato Caused pre-cancerous cell growth, damaged immune system, partial atrophy of liver, inhibition of brain development The chief scientist of the study was compulsorily relieved from job after he made the results public

11. Mazhar_CRCP_WCRD2005 11 Safety Study (III) Rats fed on GM corn Problems with blood cell formation Rats fed on GM soy Problems with liver cell formation Soon after GM soy was introduced in UK, soy allergies increased by 50 percent.

12. Mazhar_CRCP_WCRD2005 12 Safety Studies (IV) Study on human feeding on soybeans published in February 2004. Foreign gene transferred to gut bacteria; prospects of new protein Transfer of promoter into the gut bacteria; risk of switching on other genes in DNA Source: Jaffery Smith, Genetically Modified Foods may Pose National Health Risks, newswithviews.com, August 2004.

13. Mazhar_CRCP_WCRD2005 13 Representation in Biosafety Guidelines (I) National Bio-safety guidelines in Pakistan prepared in November 1999 by National Biosafety Committee Only one consultative meeting held in January 2001 Executive meeting held in January 2005 chaired by the Prime Minister

14. Mazhar_CRCP_WCRD2005 14 Representation in Biosafety Guidelines (II) Community representatives in National Committee on Biosafety of Pakistan; Representation of consumers must Institutional Biosafety Committee in each organization to work with GMOs Scientific and Technical Review Panel for Biosafety review and risk-analysis

15. Mazhar_CRCP_WCRD2005 15 Redress Existing legal framework inadequate to deal with GM foods because of Outdated definitions in Pure Food Ordinance 1960 No standards for GM food in Pakistan

16. Mazhar_CRCP_WCRD2005 16 Information Insufficient scientific certainty about safety of GM food GM food mixed with non-GM food No government policy for labeling

17. Mazhar_CRCP_WCRD2005 17 Consumer Opinion Global polls show that 58 percent consumers are unwilling to use GM food, if clearly labeled. Source: Consumers International Africa Office, July 2004

18. Mazhar_CRCP_WCRD2005 18 Consumer Education Presently, no government initiative for awareness on GMOs Few civil initiatives Media reporting few times

19. Mazhar_CRCP_WCRD2005 19 What Ahead Government should adopt a labeling policy for GM food GMOs should not be released until a consensus of all stakeholders and scientifc certainty is achieved. Consumer representation in institutions under Biosafety guidelines needs to be explicitly included Standards for GM food

20. Mazhar_CRCP_WCRD2005 20 Thank you