From: kathy or david van dame [dvd.kvd@juno.com]
Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2001 3:48 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Docket 00N-1396 & Docket 00D-1598

This comment is to ask for action by the FDA to actually protect citizens
and the environment from unintended damage by genetically engineered (GE)
crops. 

 Currently, many of the regulations in the US purporting to protect human
and environmental health have placed the burden of proof on the side of
those injured to prove beyond reasonable doubt that injury has occurred
after injury has occurred.  A much wiser and more just approach would be
to require those who hope to profit from a new technology to bear the
burden of proving beyond reasonable doubt that the technology is indeed
benign AND beneficial.

Please amend the proposed rules to require pre-market safety testing and
environmental review of GE crops.  Please support consumers in their
right to choose what they are eating by removing restrictions against
voluntary labeling of non-GE foods, and requiring labeling of GE foods. 

Please respond to the demand of citizens for input into the process by
which these types of choices are made by making information about
decisions regarding GE foods available for independent review.  

It is not just to allow corporate concerns to overwhelm citizens requests
for responsive regulation of new technologies.

Peace,
Kathy Van Dame
1148 East 6600 South #7
Salt Lake City, Utah 84121
(801)261-5989  dvd.kvd@juno.com