Hi Dave,
Friday, March 31, 2000, 8:53:07 PM, you wrote:
DL> During a recent discussion on the GMO labelling issue, the reason
DL> given by a pro GMO advocate (and anti-labelling advocate also),
That figures.
DL> was that if Canada did put in place a mandatory labelling law,
DL> that the U.S. could simply import GMO products into Canada,
DL> WITHOUT labelling their products as GMO.
Unless Canada decides to prohibit that.
DL> Thus, Canadian companies would be at a major disadvantage, and
DL> consumers would be no better off, in fact worse. Can anyone tell
DL> me if this really is permitted under NAFTA or is it simply another
DL> half truth excuse to not label?
The latter. Nafta is a trade agreement that has room for lots of
exceptions. It can be looked at as a frame of reference for for the
purpose resolving conflicts, not for preventing them. It doesn't
necessarily resolve them either, except that in the last instance
(before trashing nafta, which has been blatantly disregarded already
by the US in such areas as transport, for instance), the formation of
a trilateral panel to hear and review the issues is contemplated, when
will then emit a judgment that in any case is not binding. (How could
it be, if we're dealing with 3 separate, sovereign states)? On the
other hand, if Mexico side with Canada on this issue as seems likely,
the US will at least look bad, and there will be increased pressure in
favor of the European stance and the US's own anti-GMO groups /
sentiments.
DL> Also on the labelling issue, the same person is pushing for what
DL> they are calling a "broad definition" of GMO's for a voluntary
DL> labelling program. The way I understand it, they are including
DL> more than just GE products, so as to try and get more farmers
DL> onside with the pro-GMO side?!?! Also, a voluntary labelling
DL> program is basically useless in my opinion, as that is what we
DL> have now. They say the GMO free products will be charging a
DL> premium so they can pay the labelling cost. I say it's just one
DL> more way that the these trans national corporate biotech companies
DL> are externalizing the costs of their industrial agricultural
DL> systems.
What's interesting to me is that you actually talk to these people.
OK, know thy enemy.
Douglas
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