Thought this item from the Alliance for Bio-Integrity in Iowa City
might interest some of you. See also their Web site for the internal
FDA documents in question:
http://www.biointegrity.org/list.html
You'll find some interesting thinking and discussion in those
documents of issues like risk, toxicity, data vacuums, and the
culture of the science and policy making.
peace
mish
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ALLIANCE FOR BIO-INTEGRITY TO CHALLENGE U.S.
>FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA) OFFICIALS AT NOVEMBER 30TH MEETING
>ON GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
>
>WILL CONFRONT AGENCY WITH EVIDENCE IT COVERED-UP MEMORANDA FROM FDA
>EXPERTS WARNING ABOUT UNIQUE HEALTH RISKS OF BIOTECH FOODS
>
>PHOTOCOPIES OF THESE INTERNAL FDA DOCUMENTS NOW PUBLISHED ON
>ALLIANCE'S WEBSITE: http://www.biointegrity.org
>
>FDA Commissioner Dr. Jane Henney and her top officials will receive
>strong criticism of the agencyís policy on genetically engineered foods
>from a public interest attorney at the open meeting to be held by the
>agency in Washington, D.C. on November 30. Steven M. Druker, executive
>director of the Alliance for Bio-Integrity, will fault the FDA for
>ignoring scientifically justified safety concerns in approving
>genetically engineered foods.
>
>He has been invited to present his views as a member of the panel on
>Scientific, Safety, and Regulatory Issues.
>
>His criticisms will be aired on the day the World Trade Organization
>conference starts in Seattle, with the U.S. delegation insisting that
>FDA policy on genetically engineered foods is science-based and that
>widespread concerns in Europe and Asia are unscientific and irrational.
>
>Mr. Druker will specifically critique the FDA for turning its back to
>repeated warnings from its own scientists about the unique risks of
>genetically engineered foods and for then proclaiming itself "...not
>aware of any information showing that foods derived by these new methods
>differ from other foods in any meaningful or uniform way."
>
>These warnings recently came to light when the FDA was required to
>disclose its internal files during the course of a lawsuit headed by
>Drukerís organization, <i>Alliance for Bio-Integrity, et al. v. Shalala
>et al<i>.
>
>The suit, which is pending in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.,
>demands that the FDA institute mandatory safety testing and labeling of
>all genetically engineered foods. Mr. Druker organized an unprecedented
>coalition of eminent scientists and religious leaders to stand as
>plaintiffs, and he is also serving as one of the attorneys.
>
>After Druker and co-panelists have made their statements, Commissioner
>Henney and other FDA officials will have an opportunity to dialogue with
>them.
>
>The panel discussion will occur during the morning session, which runs
>from 10:00 A.M. until 1 P.M at the Cohen Auditorium in the Wilbur J.
>Cohen Building, 330 Independence Ave S.W., Washington, D.C.
>
>Note: Exact copies of several FDA documents expressing concern about
>risks of bioengineered foods are now on the Alliance for Bio-Integrity
>website: http://www.biointegrity.org
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