Bologna, Italy, 9 September 2005
Consumers International (CI) made an appeal for caution over
genetically modified organism (GMO) contamination. David Cuming,
CI GM Campaign Manager, said: 'Stop GMO contamination - it can
happen quickly and over vast areas and is irreversible.....
in places, like Italy, where there are a lot of small farms with
traditional and organic crops, "co-existence" is probably
impossible without removing the freedom of consumers and farmers
to choose.'
Speaking at a conference in Italy, organised by CI and Regione
Emilia-Romagna, David Cuming advised 'All countries worldwide
must introduce strict rules to prevent contamination, and allow
for GM-free zones, before allowing GMOs in their countries. The
EC must wait until they have completed the full review of
"co-existence" in Europe before approving new GMO crops.'
Prof. Ignacio Chapela, leading expert on GMOs told the conference
'"Co-existence" of GMOs and GM-free plants is biologically
impossible. If we keep thinking like this it won't be a question
of - if contamination will occur: It will be a question of when
and how much? We do not have the political will, the technical
capacity or the independence of thought to deal with "co-existence";
neither to monitor its development, nor to remedy its consequences.
Proposed biosafety and bioethical frameworks will not prevent
contamination.'
GMO and consumer experts from Canada, USA, Brazil, Thailand,
Zambia, Austria, Italy and UK presented their position on
"co-existence", contamination and GM-free zones at the conference
in Bologna. Recent examples of GMO contamination cases are: canola
fields in Australia and Canada, shipments of maize to Japan and
New Zealand, and illegal rice in China.