Chemical Week

February 19, 2003
p. 83

Food Groups Seek Moratorium on Pharma Crops

by NEIL FRANZ in Washington


A coalition of groups representing food manufacturers and restaurants
are requesting that the Bush Administration place a moratorium on the
planting of experimental genetically modified (GM) crops for
pharmaceutical production.  Environmental groups called for a similar ban
late last year.  They argue that current federal oversight of the biotech
practice, which they call "biopharming," is not stringent enough to
protect the food supply.  FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) have been under increased pressure to strengthen regulations
since November, when traces of GM corn produced by Prodigene (College
Station, TX) and intended for pharmaceutical production accidentally
contaminated soybeans in Nebraska (CW, Nov. 20/27, 2002, p. 14).  The
soybeans were destroyed before they entered the marketplace.

Food manufacturing groups say that USDA should immediately stop issuing
field-trial permits for the experimental crops until a new set of
regulations are finalized.  A moratorium is also needed to help assure
consumers that the food supply is safe, the groups say. "Plant-made
pharmaceuticals aren't meant for the dinner table," says Mary Sophos,
senior v.p./government affairs at the Grocery Manufacturers of America
(GMA; Washington).  "To minimize the possible risks, a clear system of
regulatory enforcement and liability needs to be in place," Sophos says.
"There is no room for trial and error," she says.

GMA submitted the request to federal officials last week.  It was joined
by nine other food organizations, including the National Restaurant
Association (Washington) and the Food Marketing Institute (Washington),
as well as smaller groups representing makers of baked goods, dairy
products, and soft drinks.

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) says field trials for
crop-derived pharmaceuticals should continue, and expects that the Bush
Administration will issue permits for 2003 plantings. USDA has shown "no
indication" that it will deny proper permits for the 2003 planting
season, BIO says.  Biotech companies must, however, detail in permit
applications their procedures for adequately confining and handling
experimental crops to prevent contamination of food, it says.

Any commercialization of pharmaceutical products from plant biotech,
such as proteins, is still at least a year away, BIO says.  Some
companies are planning to begin clinical trials of some products this
year, it says.

BIO says it also supports the efforts to strengthen federal oversight.
"We will defer to and encourage absolute compliance with whatever future
guidance or regulations may be issued," it says.