GM Press Briefing

New evidence on the potential health risks of GM foods -
OECD GM conference to be challenged to address scientists' concerns fully

1.30pm, Monday, 28 February 2000
Committee Room 4, Committee Chambers, Scottish Parliament, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh

US public interest attorney Steven Druker will reveal how US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scientists repeatedly warned the agency about the various health hazards of genetically engineered foods and how their input was systematically covered up. Mr Druker has obtained over 44,000 pages of internal FDA documents in the course of a lawsuit he has organised against the agency.

The following will be present to give their response:

Patrick Holden, Director of the Soil Association,
Dr Geoffrey Clements, Leader of the Natural Law Party UK
Dr Doug Parr, Director, Greenpeace UK
Peter Riley, Senior Food and Biotechnology Campaigner, Friends of the Earth, UK
Dr Sue Mayer, UK Director, GeneWatch

During the briefing, Mr Druker and the other speakers will challenge the OECD Edinburgh Conference on Food Safety either to answer the concerns of FDA and other scientists in detail, or to acknowledge that international law on the "precautionary principle" must be respected and that all GM foods must be withdrawn immediately.

MEETING HOSTED BY: Robin Harper, MSP, Green Party

Contacts

Steven Druker, Executive Director, Alliance for Bio-Integrity: mobiles 07710 417895
Dr Geoffrey Clements, Leader, Natural Law Party of the UK: mobile 07711 311616
Patrick Holden, Director, Soil Association: mobile 0374 846858

Notes:
1. This press briefing will bring out information not included in the official programme of the OECD Edinburgh Conference on the Scientific and Health Aspects of Genetically Modified Foods.
2. Steven Druker is a US attorney who has filed an ongoing suit against the US FDA on behalf of scientists, health professionals and eminent religious leaders demanding adequate safety testing and mandatory labelling of GM foods. They charge the FDA with ignoring significant health risks, violating consumer rights and infringing religious freedom.