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Church Calls For Moratorium On Genetically Engineered Food

Panafrican News Agency
November 8, 2000
Cape Town, South Africa

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.