PLEASE SHARE, COPY, PASTE AND EMAIL by Friday 7 February 2014! You can also prin…

PLEASE SHARE, COPY, PASTE AND EMAIL by Friday 7 February 2014! You can also print for people to sign & fax:

PLEASE EMAIL:
The Department of Agriculture, GMO Registrar, Ms NL Mkhonza
NompumeleloM@daff.gov.za

OR WRITE TO:
Registrar, Genetically Modified Organisms Act
Private Bag X973
Pretoria 0001
Fax Number: 012 319 6329

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16 January 2014
We are writing to you in response to the Notice that was published in the Sake Rapport (Gauteng, South Africa) on Sunday 12 January 2014 headed “Application for General Release of Genetically Modified Maize” by DuPont Pioneer, South Africa.

This white and yellow maize product contains the trait NK603. The study by molecular biologist, Prof. Gilles-Eric Seralini, University of Caen, showed potential harms of genetically modified (GM) food. Rats fed on GM corn variety NK603 over a 2 year period tended to die earlier and there was an increased risk of cancerous tumors and infertility.

Although the study was retracted from the Food and Chemical Toxicology Journal, two French regulatory bodies, HCB (the High Council of Biotechnology) and ANSES (Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety), have agreed that the Seralini study was inconclusive. They recommend that the study be repeated following a protocol to be designed together with HCB and ANSES experts, and emphasize the need for more research into the long-term toxicity of GM crops.

ANSES has been pushing for the toughening of European regulations on GM food approval, calling GMOs an insufficiently documented health hazard. The French government plans to ask for a revision of the European procedures surrounding the evaluation, approval, and control of GM organisms. The government will maintain the French moratorium on growing GM crops.

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