Not enough long-term testing is done before genetically altered foods hit the market, they said. The world community has an obligation to put human health and environmental concerns over trade liberalization, they argued, and put mandatory labeling on altered foods. The main point of contention at the international conference is whether or not countries have the right under international trade rules to block the import of genetically modified products if they believe those products pose a threat to human health or the environment. But the larger question, and the one that pitted scientist against scientist yesterday, was whether or not there is enough testing done on altered foods before humans consume them. In the other corner was a loose association of freelance scholars from around the world, warning that we still have too little understanding of how organisms interact and how genes interact.
Biotechnology involves swapping genetic coding between plants.
Trials are also being done taking animal materials and transferring them to plants. It can lead us into an irreversible situation where we can't get out again. There is no proper system in place to monitor the development of genetically altered organisms, Ms. Steinbrecher said, adding that most studies are funded by private companies with their own interests in mind, not the government's. Not true, countered Gord Surgeoner, president of Ontario Agri-Food Technologies. Mr. Surgeoner argued that genetically modified foods are subject to regulations even more rigorous than those for conventional foods in Canada.