From: EWFeucht@cs.com
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2001 7:43 AM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Docket 00N-1396 & Docket 00D-1598

Docket 00N-1396 & Docket 00D-1598
   Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305)
   Food and Drug Administration
   5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061
   Rockville, MD 20852

Dear Sirs or Madam,

I strongly believe based on the scientific research currently available on 
the subject that your rules regarding approval, labeling and marketing of 
genetically engineered foods and products are severely insufficient to 
protect the American public and environment. You MUST consider the following 
points:

* 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 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.

Failure to control this growing threat could result in the poisoning of the 
earth's gene pool,  weakening of the ecosystem and worldwide boycotts of US 
produce. Have some sense!

Erick Feucht
Sandy Hook, CT