From: PJ323JP@aol.com
Sent: Friday, March 23, 2001 10:32 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Docket 00N-1396 & Docket 00D-1598
To whomever it may to be of interest: 
      In my opinion the laws proposed for genetically engineered foods must 
go much further to protect the public welfare. 
       
      They should; 
1.require mandatory pre-market safety testing, 
2.require pre-market environmental review, 
3.require mandatory labeling of GE foods, 
4.not restrict voluntary labeling of non-GE foods, 
5.ensure public access to adequate information 
  for independent review. 
       
      To allow these unknown products to go to market without reasonable 
certainty of the effect on the health of us all is to redefine the word 
citizen to mean lab test rat. 
      I've been alive long enough to remember when we tested the "Atom Bomb" 
in the western desert without adequate knowledge of it's potential risks.  A 
number of people's lives were irreparably altered as a result. 
      Let's not make the same mistake here. 


Respectfully, Peter J. Merkel