GE Free NZ Distorts Facts

LSN Media Release: February 24, 2004

GE Free NZ distorts facts

"Where are the facts to justify the statement that pigs containing pharmaceutical proteins have entered the food chain in Canada?," Chairman of the Life Sciences Network Dr William Rolleston said today.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said last week that three genetically modified female pigs from TGN Biotech had been sent to a rendering plant in Quebec, which had distributed material to a limited number of feed mills and farms. Only the male pigs developed by TGN Biotech produce pharmaceutical proteins for human and veterinary use.

"Risk assessment by Canadian health authorities concluded that the low levels of rendered GM material in the feed is not likely to result in human exposure, or pose a health risk. Further assessments have found there is no risk to livestock consuming the affected feed," Dr Rolleston said.

"GE Free NZ are jumping to conclusions that the facts don't justify. It is blatant scaremongering to say that this case is a danger to anyone who eats pork in this country and trying to draw a link to vCJD is just bizarre.

"They are also wrong in their statement that the Environmental Risk Management Authority does not consider the effects of natural disasters on the containment of GM crops. Events such as the floods that have devastated the lower North Island this month are taken into consideration by ERMA when they make their decisions. Claire Bleakley is ignoring the fact that no GM crops will be released into the environment until they are proven safe," Dr Rolleston concluded.

To read the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Press Release visit http://www.inspection.gc.ca

LSN, 24 February 2004

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