From: Michael Coon and Jenica Waymen [michael&jenica@telus.net]
Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2001 9:52 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Docket OON-1396 & Docket OOD-1598

We strongly urge the FDA to require mandatory pre-market comprehensive environmental review of GE products.  It is a major concern to us that, unlike conventional pollutants where a given amount of pollutant causes a limited amount of damage, a small number of mutant genes could have a population explosion and reproduce forever, causing unlimited and irreparable damage.  We urge the FDA to require mandatory pre-market long-term health testing of GE products.  GE products could be toxic, cause allergic responses, have lower nutritional value, and compromise immune response in consumers.  Any potential benefits must be balanced by the potential dis-benefits when the FDA assesses GE food products.
 
As consumers, we urge the FDA to require mandatory labeling of GE products.  Without mandatory labeling, neither consumers nor health professionals wil know if an allergic or toxic reaction may have been the result of GE food.  Consumers would be deprived of the critical knowledge needed to make informed food choices.  They would also been deprived of critical information needed to hold food producers liable should any of these novel products be hazardous to their health.
 
We also urge the FDA to ensure that its staff act in the broad public interest without any reasonable comprehension of bias in its dealings with the GE industry.
 
Michael Coon and Jenica K. Waymen
548 Beach Drive
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
V8S 2M5