Ecuadorean Parliament Passes Law Banning GMO in Food Aid 23 May 2006 THIRD WORLD NETWORK BIOSAFETY INFORMATION SERVICE
Dear Friends and colleagues,
RE: ECUADOREAN PARLIAMENT PASSES LAW BANNING GMO IN FOOD AID
We wish to bring to your attention that the Ecuadorean Parliament has passed a law which bans the presence of GMOs in food aid.
Food aid has become controversial in recent years as some parties, namely the US, have insisted that countries facing famine should accept GM food aid, even though some countries have rejected it.
The fact that countries and people require food assistance should not be a reason to deprive them of the choice to obtain non-GM food. Countries' right to reject GM food aid should be respected and all means should be taken to provide non-GM food to countries that do not want to receive GM food.
Ecuador's decision to ban GM food aid is in line with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety which enshrines the sovereign right of countries to be informed of, and to take precautionary decisions, on imports of GMOs.
With best wishes, Chee Yoke Heong Third World Network 121-S Jalan Utama 10450 Penang Malaysia Email: [email protected] Website: www.biosafety-info.net and www.twnside.org.sg
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ECUADOREAN PARLIAMENT PASSED A LAW WHICH BAN GMO IN FOOD AID ACCION ECOLOGICA 18 May 2006
The Ecuadorean Parliament passed a law, which ban the presence of GMO in food aid.
This provision was part of a law of food security, which also include concepts such as the promotion of food security through supporting local production, reducing the dependency on imported food and donations.
The idea of having a law on food security was promoted by FAO. Later the text was discussed by indigenous, farmers and consumer1s organizations; and concluded with a text, which pretend reach food security through food sovereignty.
In Ecuador, GMOs has being found in food aid programs before. With this law the local population which participate in these programs (mainly indigenous people and poor farmers), can ensure that the food they are receving is GE free.
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