NGOs query genetically modified crops

JAKARTA (JP): Environmental and consumer groups called on the government here on Monday to expedite the issuance of clear and strict regulations on the distribution of genetically modified food and products as such products are already widely available on the Indonesian market.

The Indonesian Consumers Organization (YLKI), the National Consortium for Nature and Forest Conservation and the Pesticide Action Network in a joint briefing alleged that the distribution of genetically modified products was illegal as the government claimed that no genetically modified products had been approved for import.

The groups claim that such imported, altered products can be easily found.

What is more alarming is that consumers and farmers have no knowledge of the genetically modified characteristics of these products.

A member of YLKI's board of directors, Arimbi H., would not comment on whether she felt that the products were safe or not as testing had yet to be conducted here. Nevertheless, she argued that the rights of consumers were being violated as they were not being fully informed as to the true nature of the products.

"The effects aren't known yet but the products are already on the market and consumers have been given absolutely no information about them," Arimbi said.

The groups called on the government to take quick action and to fully test the products.

They further implored the authorities not to accept without question the conclusions of manufacturers claiming their products are safe.

The government has to make available to the public test data and the evaluations of scientists so the that results can be properly appraised.

An investigation by the three groups found that several genetically modified varieties were already on the market and were being widely used by farmers across the country.

Among these are the genetically modified corn hybrid C7 Bt, corn C7 RR and cotton plant Bt.

They are being cultivated at about 20 sites in parts of East Java, Central Java, West Java, Lampung and South Sulawesi.

Arimbi claimed that the planting of these crops should be considered illegal as "no permits have been issued by the government for the planting of such crops".

These products are considered Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) which are biologically engineered products in which genes are inserted to protect the plant from pests or to resist a specific herbicide.

Despite assurances from scientists that the products are harmless, some doubts have been raised as to the safety of genetically modified foods.

Fears of negative side effects have prompted the European Union to issue a ruling on the labeling of foods and food additives that contain at least 1 percent GMOs.

The policy aims to alert consumers to even a slight presence of GMOs in food.

Arimbi reiterated calls for the government to adopt such labeling methods so that consumers can be fully informed.

She added that the Ministry of Forestry and Plantations along with the Ministry of Health have already conducted some tests on several of these crops. However, the results of these tests have yet to be made public.

Tejo Wahyu Jatmiko of Konphalindo said their investigation found that the farmers who planted these crops, which are distributed by multinational companies here, had no inkling of the genetically modified nature of their crops.

"We also came across a case, but only one case so far, of an allergic reaction from one of the farmers due to the crop," Tejo said without elaborating.

"When he ate regular corn he was alright. It was only after he ate the genetically modified corn that the allergic reaction occurred."

However, the companies distributing the alleged genetically modified products claim that their varieties are simply hybrids.

PT Branita Sandhini, the company distributing the C7 Bt corn variety denied that the corn is genetically modified.

"The corn is a conventional hybrid," the company's finance manager Prananto Nugroho told The Jakarta Post recently.

Although the company did not themselves conduct research on the product, they had been given assurances from the corn's producer, PT Monagro Kimia.

PT Monagro is a subsidiary of the American-based company Monsanto.

Monsanto is the second largest seed producing company and the third largest agrochemical company in the world. It has developed genetically engineered products like soybeans which resist specific herbicides.

Monagro's Corporate Communications Manager Tri Sukirman also denied the allegation, saying that the corn is a plain hybrid.

"We have already informed the government departments and the distributors concerned that this is not a genetically modified product. We don't know how they (the NGOs) could come to such a conclusion," she told the Post. (09)