House commission works on GMO rules<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Insisting it is taking an impartial stance on
\ntransgenic products, or Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO),
\nHouse of Representatives Commission VIII for environmental,
\nscience and technology affairs is working on a draft law to
\nregulate the controversial products.<\/p>\n
\"We are neither accepting or rejecting such products. But we
\nthink that we have to take precautions over the safety of the
\nproducts.<\/p>\n
\"That's why a regulation is needed to handle the matter,
\nespecially with the implementation of regional autonomy next
\nyear,\" commission chairman Irwan Prayitno said during a break in
\na public discussion about transgenic products at the commission's
\nhearing room.<\/p>\n
The only existing regulation which touches on the issue, he
\nsaid, was a 1999 joint ministerial decree issued by the ministers
\nof agriculture, forestry, food and horticulture, and health. This
\ndecree is concerned with the safety of foods and natural
\nproducts.<\/p>\n
\"But the decree is only valid internally for the four
\nministries. Therefore, it must be reviewed,\" Irwan, a legislator
\nfrom the Justice Party (PK), said.<\/p>\n
The issue of GMO products continues to spark debate among the
\npublic.<\/p>\n
GMO are biologically engineered products in which genes are
\ninserted from one species into another to produce a new product
\nwhich has desired and beneficial characteristics.<\/p>\n
A researcher from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture, Antonius
\nSuwanto, said the debate was understandable, but stressed that
\nIndonesia already trailed other countries in biotechnology
\nissues.<\/p>\n
\"Thailand has anticipated biotechnology developments by
\nestablishing the National Center for Genetic Engineering and
\nBiotechnology. Singapore and Malaysia are discussing the
\ntechnology to detect and determine the criteria of transgenic
\nproducts,\" Antonius said during the discussion.<\/p>\n
The government must determine such issues as biosafety,
\nlabeling, the examination system and regulations, prices, laws
\nand the infrastructure to deal with these products, he said.<\/p>\n
Tejo Wahyu Jatmiko of the National Consortium for Nature and
\nForest Conservation said scientists tended to promote only the
\ngood side of transgenic products.<\/p>\n
\"It's similar to the United States, whose Department of
\nAgriculture only allocated 1 percent of its total biotechnology
\nresearch budget, or around US$1 million to US$2 million, to
\nresearch the negative impacts of the products,\" he said during
\nthe discussion. (hdn)<\/p>",
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