Church Calls For Moratorium On Genetically ...
COMTEX Newswire
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (PANA) (Panafrican News Agency, November 8, 2000) -
The Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference Wednesday expressed its
concern over the utilisation of Genetic Engineering or GE technologies in
agriculture and food production.
Tens of thousands of hectares in South Africa have been planted with GE crops.
Modified maize and cotton are already commercially produced, while soybean,
potato, tomato, apple and canola are in a trial phase.
The Rev. Wilfred Napier, archbishop of Durban, said GE is an imprecise
technology and that the long-term health effects of consuming GE food have not
been assessed.
"Scientists are warning that new allergens, carcinogens and toxins may be
introduced into foods," he said. "Moreover, the damage to the environment would
be largely irreversible. Once released, genetically engineered organisms become
part of our ecosystem."
He added that another major issue posed by the transgenic crop technologies is
the cross-pollination of neighbouring non-GE crops due to pollen drift. This
pollution could result in the eradication of biodiversity in areas bordering
genetically modified crops.
"Because we do not know whether there are any serious risks to the environment
or human health, to produce and market genetically modified food is morally
irresponsible. The precautionary principle should apply, as it is done in
medical research," he said.
He called on the government to introduce a five-year freeze on genetic
engineering, in support of the campaign launched by the South African Freeze
Alliance on Genetic Engineering.
"We agree that a five-year period is the minimum time needed to implement
stringent safety tests on GE foods and to thoroughly research the health, safety
and environmental impacts of GE crops.
"During this time the import and export of GE foods and crops as well as the
patenting of seeds for food and farm crops should be stopped," Napier said.
He also urged the government to introduce compulsory labelling of GE food and
sign the international Protocol on Biosafety which requires that countries
exporting genetically modified organisms provide, in advance, detailed
information to the importing country.
Copyright 2000 Panafrican News Agency. Distributed via Africa News Online.
-0-
Copyright 2000