"The onus for the proof of safety has to lie
 with the proponents, with the proponent
 companies who want to force genetic
 engineering and its products down our throats."

 ABC News, Australia
 Thu, Feb 14 2002 5:34 PM AEDT

 Row erupts over approval of GM foods

 The propaganda battle between
 Australia's food regulation authority
 and lobby groups has been stepped up overnight.

 The Australia New Zealand Food Authority
 (ANZFA) has been accused of being reckless
 in its approval of genetically modified (GM)  foods.

 ANZFA's managing director Ian Lindenmayer
 says the Gene Ethics Network and the Public
 Health Association have been spreading
 misinformation and making unsubstantiated
 assertions about the safety and labelling of GM foods.

 He says GM foods ANZFA has approved are
 as safe as any other food, and groups which
 say otherwise should produce evidence.

 But that suggestion is rejected by the director
 of the Gene Ethics Network, Bob Phelps.

 "That's a back to front approach," Mr Phelps
 said.

 "The onus for the proof of safety has to lie
 with the proponents, with the proponent
 companies who want to force genetic
 engineering and its products down our throats."

 Mr Phelps says most of the testing for ANZFA
 approved products is done by the gene
 technology companies, with no independent
 review.