Editor:
On April 15, Parliament passed bill C-474. This bill passed in spite of intense pressure from the biotech industry and now goes to the Agriculture Committee. Bill C-474 would support Canadian farmers by requiring that "an analysis of potential harm to export markets be conducted before the sale of any new genetically engineered seed is permitted."
Late last year, Canadian flax exports were discovered contaminated with a GE flax that is not approved in Europe or in any of our other export markets (except the U.S.). Flax farmers actually foresaw that GE contamination or even the threat of contamination would close their export markets. That's why they took steps in 2001 to remove GE flax from the market. Despite this measure, flax farmers were not protected. The GE flax contamination closed our export markets in 2009. It has created market uncertainty and depressed prices. Farmers are also paying for testing and cleanup and may be required to abandon their own farm-saved flax seed and buy certified seed instead. These costs are an unnecessary and preventable burden.
Aside from the fact that GE crops have recently been reported to cause severe health problems, destroys our seed biodiversity and the list goes on one would assume that supporting our farmers and food exports would make could economic sense. For more information go to www.cban.ca
Sandy Beresford
Halfmoon Bay
