From: Marita Kubersky [marita@asky.net]
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2001 3:11 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Docket 00N-1396; Docket 00D-1598

* TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN AT THE FDA:
*
* These issues are of very great concern to us as human beings, as
constituents/voters, as consumers, as parents of the future generations.  We
can no longer tolerate our government hiding the facts and issues from us,
or preventing us from knowing what it is we are consuming or putting in our
environment, which will eventually effect our survival on this planet as a
species.  I believe that, as Americans, we have a right to know.  We must be
able to have faith in our government!
*
* The FDA must require mandatory pre-market comprehensive environmental
review. 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.
* The FDA must require mandatory pre-market long-term health testing. GE
products could be toxic, cause allergic responses, have lower nutritional
value, and compromise immune responses in consumers.
* The FDA must require mandatory labeling of GE products.
Without mandatory labeling, neither consumers nor health professionals will
know if an allergic or toxic reaction was the result of a genetically
engineered food. Consumers would be deprived of the critical knowledge
needed to hold food producers liable should any of these novel products be
hazardous.
* The FDA must end its cozy relationship with the industries it purports to
be regulating. People have been allowed to work working for the company.
Ninety-two percent of FDA advisory committee meetings had at least one
conflict of interest.for a biotech company, then work for the FDA writing
the regulatory rules on that company's product, then go back to working for
the company.  Ninety-two percent of FDA advisory committee meetings had at
least one conflict of interest.

Please do not dismiss the voice of the consumers on these issues.  A good
part of the rest of the educated world is encouraging us to do what they
have already done in labelling and restricting GE products.  They are
hoping, as do we, that you will follow suit.

Thank you very much for your efforts!



MARITA de GIVE KUBERSKY