17 Jan 2010
STOP GENETICALLY ENGINEERED ALFALFA!
USDA just released its draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on GE alfalfa and NOW is your chance to demand that USDA protect organic food from GE contamination.
Comments are due February 16, 2010
Tell the USDA Not to Approve Monsanto's GE Alfalfa
In the EIS, USDA claims that there is no evidence that consumers care about GE contamination of organic alfalfa. But it's not just alfalfa that is at risk - since alfalfa is fed to dairy cows and other livestock, organic dairy and meat products that you eat could be affected too!
** Tell USDA That You Care About GE Contamination
of Organic Crops and Food **
Below are some excerpts from the EIS and additional recommended talking points -Write your own letter and post it in the mail or go to the website of one of our partner organizations below to send your comments via their website. COMMENTS ARE DUE FEBRUARY 16, 2010
FoodandWaterWatch.org
CenterforFoodSafety.org
PASS THIS ALERT ON TO ALL YOUR NETWORKS
-- For more information, a detailed Fact Sheet from the Center for Food Safety, as well as an electronic version of this alert, go to: www.NationalOrganicCoalition.org
*Tell USDA You Won't Buy GE Contaminated Alfalfa and Alfalfa-Derived Meat & Dairy Products:
USDA claims that consumers will not reject GE contamination of organic alfalfa if the contamination is unintentional or if the GE material is not transmitted to the end milk or meat product.
*Tell USDA to Protect All Farmers, Organic Included, Who Wish to Choose to Grow Non-GE Crops:
Although USDA says it supports "coexistence" of all types of agriculture, USDA refuses to even consider any future for alfalfa that would include protections from contamination for organic and conventional farmers and exporters.
*Tell USDA That Protecting Organic Farmers is Its Job and That Relying Solely on Monsanto's Business as Usual "Best Practices" Ensures Widespread GE Contamination:
USDA claims that Monsanto's seed contracts require measures sufficient to prevent GE contamination, and that there is no evidence to the contrary. USDA is ignoring evidence from widespread GE contamination of Canola, Soy, and Corn.
*Tell USDA That GE Alfalfa Would Significantly Increase Pesticide Use and Increase Harm to Human Health and the Environment:
USDA admits (correctly) that introduction of Roundup Ready alfalfa will increase Roundup use. However, USDA's claims that the increase is not significant and that Roundup will replace other, more toxic herbicides are flat-out wrong.
*Tell USDA That Harm to Small and Organic Farmers from GE Contamination Would be Significant:
USDA concludes that GE alfalfa will cause production to shift to larger farms (that can afford built-in isolation distances) and conventional growers who are not threatened by GE contamination, but that these economic shifts are not significant.
*Tell USDA to Extend the Comment Period:
USDA provided only a 60-day comment period, from Dec 16-Feb 16. We need more time.
HOW TO COMMENT:
Comments are due February 16, 2010. Comments can be filed directly online at: http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#submitComment?R=0900006480a6b7a1
For written, mailed comments please send two copies to: Docket No. APHIS-2007-0044, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS-2007-0044.
For more information, go to: www.NationalOrganicCoalition.org
Food and Water Watch
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