Maintaining the labeling of products containing genetically modified organisms (GMO)

Public petition n°3894

Petitioner: Daniel Norbert Grommes

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20 or 25 years ago, many persons and organizations were opposed to genetically modified organisms (GMO); the result was a prudent approach concerning human and livestock food and pharmaceutics. Until now, genetically modified organisms were prohibited in normal human food. Only in livestock food, pharmaceutics and non-food applications they were allowed, but a clear indication was required. Without any mandate of the population (no party program, no referendum, nor any other questioning of the citizens), our EU representants agreed on diminishing restrictions on GMOs, and above all, abolished the labeling requirement of products containing GMOs. The petition calls on our country to oppose this agreement and refrain from transposing this directive into national law.»).

Short information : GMOs have some advantages : - Much faster evolution of the plants to some desired specifications as it would be possible by natural selection (e.g. drought resistance). - Plant mutation to increase their resistance to some herbicides, fungi or other pathologies. But there are undesirable effects : - Some genes may cause diseases or allergies to persons. - Plants may become invasive. - The developers of such plants can patent their modification, so licenses will have to be purchased to use the seed of these plants. - Plants are living creatures that are spreading. So it will be possible to find GMO plants on organically cultivated fields. - Plant pathologies may evolute to super-pathologies that even affect modified plants (and the non genetically modified will be affected much more dramatically as would be by a natural evolution). Every citizen should have his own opinion to genetically modified organisms, but at least he (she) has to have and maintain the possibility to choose.