- On March 29th, the California Rice Commission gave their
approval for the planting and milling of two genetically engineered drug-producing
rice varieties spliced with synthetic human genes. This will be the first
commercial pharmaceutical food crop in the world and could be planted anywhere
in the state.
-
- The Food and Drug Administration has established a zero
tolerance for pharmaceutical crop products in food and animal feed. Contamination
of the food supply with this rice is inevitable!
-
- Final approval for this Pharmaceutical Rice must still
be granted by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).
CDFA may be making a decision at any time.
-
- [ Californians for GE-Free Agriculture I Background on
GE Rice in California I Raising Risk: Field Testing of GE Crops in the
US I BioTech IMC I PDX-IMC's GMO Page ]
-
- California Rice Commission Approves Two GE Drug-Producing
Rice Varieties Spliced with synthetic human Genes
- * photo by Ian Hunter
-
- URGENT ACTION ALERT - STOP DRUG PRODUCING RICE FROM BEING
GROWN
-
- On March 29th, the California Rice Commission gave their
approval for the planting and milling of two genetically engineered drug-producing
rice varieties spliced with synthetic human genes. This will be the first
commercial pharmaceutical food crop in the world and could be planted anywhere
in the state.
-
- The Food and Drug Administration has established a zero
tolerance for pharmaceutical crop products in food and animal feed. Contamination
of the food supply with this rice is inevitable!
-
- This "pharm" rice is produced by Ventria Biosciences,
a Sacramento-based company. Ventria's rice has been genetically engineered
by inserting human genes, and it produces drugs for infant formula and
as antibiotic substitutes in poultry feed.
-
- These rice varieties have not yet received federal approval
for marketing as drugs, and have not been approved for human or animal
consumption by the Food and Drug Administration. The federal government
has not evaluated their safety for humans or the environment.
-
- Final approval for this Pharmaceutical Rice must still
be granted by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).
CDFA may be making a decision at any time.
-
- * * *
-
- TAKE ACTION TODAY
-
- Send an email to the CDFA Secretary, A.G. Kawamura encouraging
him to delay approval of the Ventria's rice until this rice has been approved
for human consumption and at the very least to allow for public input during
the decision making process.
-
- You can send an email directly at: http://www.thecampaign.org/california.php
-
- Or cut and paste the sample comments below and send to:
- secretary (at) cdfa.ca.gov
-
- You can also call the CDFA at: 916-654-0433
-
- SAMPLE COMMENTS
-
- TITLE: PLEASE STOP PHARMACEUTICAL RICE
-
- Dear Secretary Kawamura,
-
- I am writing to express my concern about the recent recommendation
of the California Rice Commission to approve a protocol for the Ventria
Biosciences pharmaceutical rice varieties.
-
- This pharmaceutical rice has not been approved for human
consumption by the federal government. Until approval is obtained by Ventria,
no certification for commercial production in California should be granted.
-
- The protocol allows for the planting of research crops
anywhere in the state and the transportation of milled pharmaceutical rice
from the restricted growing area in Southern California to any other region
of California. This and other potential sources of contamination present
great danger to the purity and reputation of California rice. Even a small
risk of contamination is too great, and will not be tolerated by consumers
or foreign markets. The California rice industry cannot afford contamination,
or the risk of contamination from this rice.
-
- I urge you to weigh these considerations carefully before
you make a decision on the recommendation of the Rice Commission. I also
strongly urge that you convene a public input process to hear from the
wide range of people and organizations in California that have knowledge,
concerns and information to incorporate in your decision.
-
- Thank you for your consideration of this matter.
-
-
- http://santacruz.indymedia.org/feature/display/8342/index.php
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