China’s Import of Transgenic Corn Raises Health Concerns

The latest data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture states that China has signed a contract to import 115,000 tons of genetically modified corn from the United States which is regarded as the largest import contract for transgenic corn in the last 10 years. The buyer is New Hope Group, a private Chinese company that claims to be the largest agricultural product supplier in China, with dozens of animal feedstuff and dairy manufacturers under its banner. The transgenic corn will be shipped to China by the end of August. In another report, China's largest oils and food importer and exporter, Cereals Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO), bought another six shiploads of transgenic corn from the United States. However, unlike the United States, where transgenic corn is used only for making industrial material, the president of New Hope confirmed that the imported transgenic corn will be used to manufacture pig feed. In a research, Austrian scientists proved that genetically modified corn fed to mice resulted in decreased reproductive capacity in the mice.
A study of male sexual health undertaken in a transgenic corn area, Guangxi University revealed that more than half of the male student population had abnormal sperm as over 10 million people in Guangxi consume corn as the primary staple food in their diet. As a result of these findings, there is concern over the possibility that the imported transgenic corn will find its way into the domestic food market in China.
 

 MNCs wreaking havoc through GM Food says Himachal Pradesh CM

The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh has said that some of the multi national companies were wreaking havoc in India by spreading their tentacles through Genetically Modified (GM) food, which needs to be curbed by imposing adequate restrictions. The Genetically Modified seeds and food were responsible for causing physical disorders and deformities in human beings not only in other countries of the world but India as well and it was a matter of grave concern. Genetically Modified food had an adverse affect on the health of human beings but due to the strong nexus between the market forces, GM food had made inroads into our society. According to a survey report, in Punjab the use of GM food by the consumers has led to the deformity among children and the fertility age of women has been reduced drastically. The chief minister noted that it was quite surprising that how a country of more than 120 crore people had become helpless before the seed mafia and GM food. He also said that obsolete technology is being imported to India on the terms and conditions of other countries and the personal interests of some people and scientists are controlling our country. The state government of Himachal Pradesh will also consider imposing a moratorium on GM food even for more than 15 years apart from holding an International Conference on the various issues concerning GM food.

  Ministries agree to create new regulator

The Ministry of Environment and Science is to resolve the differences over who will govern the entry of genetically modified (GM) crops in India. The controversial genetic engineering approval committee, or GEAC, which currently gives the nod for the commercial release of GM crops, is likely to be integrated with a biotechnology regulator proposed by the science ministry. This will relegate GEAC, which functions under the environment ministry, to an advisory role within the autonomous Biotech Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI). The move will be included in a revised draft of the Bill to set up BRAI, likely to be introduced in Parliament in a couple of months. The science ministry’s department of biotechnology is also drafting the Bill in consultation with the law ministry. The Environment Protection Act mandated GEAC to ascertain the safety of GM plants and organisms before they are commercially released.
Independent scientists say that an independent regulator is essential to inspire public confidence in transgenic seeds as well as aid research. The science ministry proposed to set up BRAI, seeking to do away with GEAC and giving regulatory powers to a three-member panel of experts. But such a move would go against the Environment Protection Act, which places the onus of checking the release of “hazardous” substances with the environment ministry.

    Continue ....