From: mikevanh@proaxis.com
Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2001 11:49 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Cc: mikevanh@proaxis.com
Subject: Oppose FDA's New Regulations on Genetically Engineered Food

Michael Van Handel

Corvallis, OR  97330 
mikevanh@proaxis.com


RE: Docket No. 00N-1396, and 00D-1598

Dear FDA,

Your new policies on genetically engineered (GE) foods are not only inadequate, but likely to exacerbate, rather than improve, a potentially dangerous situation. These policies are being instituted contrary to the public interest, without regard to the precautionary principle that should inform policy decisions, and with a clear preference for commercial interests over sound scientific inquiry.

Your "notification" policy irresponsibly ignores strong scientific evidence of potential health and environmental risks associated with GE foods. You should be aware that these foods could be toxic, could cause allergic responses, could have lower nutritional value, could compromise immune responses in consumers, and could cause irreparable damage to the environment. 

The "voluntary labeling" policy denies consumers a basic right to know, and would exacerbate efforts to identify and ameliorate unanticipated negative health effects of genetically engineered foods.

In effect, these policies substitute rigorous testing that should be done with a shoddy, ill-concieved, after-market exercise in which we pay to participate as guinea pigs.

Regards,



Michael Van Handel