Reuters | January 18, 2000 | By Julie Vorman
WASHINGTON - Two influential food industry groups urged U.S. regulators on Tuesday to tighten the rules for biotech foods and force makers to turn over studies and tests about the safety of new products.
The Grocery Manufacturers of America and the National Food Processors Association also told the government there was no need to have special labels giving shoppers more information about gene-spliced ingredients in foods.
The Food and Drug Administration is mulling whether to change its regulations governing the approval of foods made from genetically altered soybeans, corn, potatoes and other crops.
Several U.S. environmental and consumer groups have followed the lead of the European Union and pressed for stricter rules - or even a moratorium - on new bioengineered foods. The activist groups contend that not enough is yet known about the long-term health or environmental effects of tinkering with a plant's genes.
The green groups have been especially incensed at the FDA's "consultative" approval system that gives companies considerable freedom in testing bioengineered crops for health risks. Firms can decide how much of their data to share with agency scientists, and do not have to keep detailed records on file for future queries.
The grocery group, which represents U.S. manufacturers of brand-name foods and beverages, said it believed the consultative process was effective but acknowledged that consumers want more information.
"Because the current consultation process is legally voluntary, it is vulnerable to criticism," said Stacey Zawel, vice president of the Grocery Manufacturers Association. She added the group would "support efforts that would reassure consumers that all appropriate safety reviews are conducted."
The food processors group agreed that biotech companies should file "summary documentation" with the FDA to support safety claims. All the data should be made available to the public after a specified period of time, said Rhona Applebaum, vice president of the processors group.
But the FDA should reject calls from consumer groups who are demanding special labels to identify gene-altered foods, she said. A better option is for companies to use voluntary labels to identify whether a food contains - or is free from - bioengineered ingredients, Applebaum said.
Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, whose department also has a hand in regulating biotech crops, said last week he did not believe the federal government would require labels on genetically modified foods.
In addition to the FDA's own review, the USDA is forming a biotech advisory panel to offer recommendations on any changes in government policies and regulations.
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