The Michigan House of Representatives Committee on Consumers approved a series of bills last month that will allow dairy processors to label milk, ice cream and cheese. This is an important issue and the public has a right to know. Just because we label anything doesn't mean it's bad. The milk is absolutely the same. These bills would complicate our whole milk distribution system.
Many farmers say the issue has caused a rift in the farming community.
As a result, the OECD recently decided to establish new internal mechanisms to assist with biotech queries from member countries. The OECD convened a Working Party on Biotechnology, which is made up of a committee on agriculture, an environment policy committee, a scientific and technological policy committee, and an industry committee. In Germany, public opposition to biotechnology is running so high that companies like Hoechst, BASF and Bayer are investing in biotech ventures elsewhere. And 10 years ago, Hoechst opened up a plant to make genetically engineered insulin. However, the plant remains unfinished as a result of red tape and protests by local politicians and environmental groups.