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Labeling of genetically engineered foods in Malaysia threatened by TPPA

  • Publication Date | January 20, 2014
  • Document Type | Media Statement
  • Programmes | Agriculture
  • Issues | Genetic Engineering, Trade & Investment
  • Tags | Biosafety Act 2007, Fast Track, TPP, Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement
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This statement has been endorsed by 4 other NGOs in Malaysia.

The tabling of the “Fast Track Bill” in the United States sends an ominous signal that the United Stateswill insist in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) that Malaysia forgoes labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods. Malaysia is currently negotiating the TPPA with 11 other countries – Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, US and Vietnam – and negotiations have been intensifying.

The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities Act of 2014, as it is formally known, was tabled on 9 January 2014. Fast Track authority would mean that the US Congress can only vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the TPPA.

The Bill lays out the principal trade negotiating objectivesof the US. With respect to agriculture, the objective is to obtain opportunities for US exports of agricultural commodities in foreign markets. It specifically points to the need to develop, strengthen, and clarify rules to eliminate practices the US deems to be unfair, and to ensure that such rules are subject to dispute settlement.

Among the practices targeted for elimination are “unjustified trade restrictions orcommercial requirements, such as labeling, that affect new technologies, including biotechnology” (p. 9).

If proposed in the TPPA and agreed to by Malaysia, this would mean that Malaysians’ right to know whether our food is genetically engineered is under threat. There is still great scientific uncertainty as to whether GE foods are safe to consume, and at the least labeling provides choice to the consumers.

Malaysia’s Biosafety Act 2007 already requires the identification and labelling of living modified organisms (LMOs), items containing LMOs and products of such organisms. For GE food, this is put into operation by the Food (Amendment) Regulations 2010. These laws will have to be changed if the move to eliminate GE food labelling succeeds in the TPPA negotiations.

In addition, the National Fatwa Council for Islamic Affairs Malaysia, in 2011, issued a fatwa stating that in the production of GE food, the use of ingredients that are prohibited (haram) and that harm human beings and the environment, are not allowed. For Muslim consumers therefore, the labeling of GE food would be important in providing certainty.

The US is the world’s largest producer and exporter of GE crops. It does not have laws or regulations requiring mandatory labeling of GE food. The US specifically asked for the labeling provision in the then draft Biosafety Bill to be removed during the previous bilateral US-Malaysia free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations.

While the Fast Track Bill is unlikely to be approved, given that a large bloc of Democrats and Republicans in the House of Representativesare opposed to it, the fact remains that US legislators do not want to see GE labeling in trade partner countries. If President Obama is not granted Fast Track authority, then Congress can demand further changes to the TPPA. Therefore, with or without Fast Track authority, the intention of the US is clear: eliminate GE labeling to allow the unimpeded entry of US GE food exports in foreign markets.

GE labelling is in the national and public interest and should be a red line for the government. There should not be any provisions in the TPPA that restrict the ability of Malaysia to regulate in favour of food safety. In particular the TPPA should not require changes to our existing and future laws that Malaysia deems appropriate in this area, which require the identification and labelling of LMOs and products of such organisms, including GE food.

Given that the US is very unlikely to compromise on this issue, and that this is only one of the many serious concerns with the TPPA, many civil society groups do not see the benefit of remaining in the negotiations and are calling on the government to withdraw from the TPPA.


S. M. Mohamed Idris

President

On behalf of:

1. Consumers’ Association of Penang
2. EcoKnights
3. Sahabat Alam Malaysia
4. Third World Network
5. WWF-Malaysia

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Testimonials

Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah satu badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang telah sekian lama berjuang mempertahan kelestarian alam. Ia juga mendidik masyarakat tentang pentingnya kebersamaan dalam pemikiran dan tindakan agar alam ini dapat kita wariskan kepada generasi hadapan dalam keadaan yang elok dan terpelihara. Dalam pada itu juga SAM giat membantu golongan nelayan pantai dalam memperjuangkan hak-hak mereka sehinggalah tertubuhnya Persatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING). Nelayan pantai sepenuh masa ini dididik oleh SAM sehingga mereka mampu memainkan peranan sebagai pemimpin nelayan yang meneruskan kesinambungan memperjuangkan hak-hak nelayan pantai lainnya. Sebagai contoh SAM telah berjaya menyedarkan masyarakat nelayan keperluan menjaga hutan paya bakau untuk kebaikan hasil tangkapan nelayan itu sendiri.
Jamaluddin Mohamad Bualik
Jamaluddin Mohamad BualikPersatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Jaringan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING)
During the 1980s, I used to read about the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) in the news. After retirement, some time in 2001, while lazing around, I read news about the construction of a carbon in leach plant using sodium cyanide to extract gold in Bukit Koman. My friends and I visited CAP and we were introduced to SAM and her legal team. We discussed the details of filing a case against the gold mining company and the department of environment with Ms Meenakshi Raman and her legal team. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship between lawyers from SAM and many of us from Bukit Koman. We had many ups and downs in our struggle to shut down the gold mine that was causing a nuisance in our village. But, as a community we never gave up because SAM had our backs.
Hue Fui How
Hue Fui HowSecretary, Bukit Koman Ban Cyanide in Goldmining Action Committee (BCAC)
Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah sebuah NGO yang memperjuangkan nasib masyarakat luar bandar khasnya. SAM menerima aduan-aduan masyarakat dan menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi. SAM telah mewujudkan ramai aktivis-aktivis sosial dan alam sekitar. Pada era 1980 dan 90an SAM sangat dihormati oleh masyarakat dan agensi kerajaan. Apabila media sosial menguasai maklumat maka SAM pun terkesan dan masalah masyarakat terus disalurkan dengan pelbagai cara. SAM perlu mewujudkan aktivis-aktivis pelapis yang muda untuk terus membantu masyarakat. SAM juga perlu membuat perubahan supaya banyak turun kelapangan dan jangan mengharapkan laporan media sahaja. Tingkatkan prestasi sebagaimana pada zaman kegemilangan SAM di era 80-90an.
Che Ani Mt Zain
Che Ani Mt Zain
SAM taught me the importance of social activism and the role it plays in upholding the rights of people and the protection of the environment. In my experience, SAM has never hesitated to speak up in defence of people and their environment, and has gone the extra mile to champion their rights, by helping communities take their battles to the higher ups and even to the courts.
Jessica Binwani
Jessica BinwaniPublic/Private Interest Lawyer
Semenjak kami kenal SAM, banyak pengalaman dan pengetahuan yg kami dapat. Kami telah belajar cara membuat baja asli daripada SAM. Semenjak itu, bermulalah minat kami dalam aktiviti pertanian. Dengan memperolehi kemahiran dalam membuat baja asli dan penanaman lestari, kami juga telah dapat menambahkan pendapatan sampingan kami. Ini lebih baik daripada tanah kami terbiar dan tidak diusahakan. Terima kasih SAM kerana sudi memberi bantuan dan tunjuk ajar kepada Persatuan kami.
Chedo Anak Nyuwen
Chedo Anak NyuwenPersatuan Penduduk Sg Buri, Bakong, Marudi
My journey with SAM started when her community organisers took me to the meet the paddy farmers of Kedah, connecting my growing interest in environmental law with our people who struggle to work the land in the face of pollution, replacement of traditional seeds with commercial hybrids and their accompanying chemical package of fertilisers and weedicides. I then had the honour to work with SAM in the struggle for the rights of the native communities of Sarawak, in defence of their forests from massive logging and destructive mega-projects. In every issue that SAM takes up, she combines rigorous research with the realities and voices of the communities to advocate for policies and laws that care for people and nature. From the courts to the elected legislators to policy makers and implementers and to the United Nations, SAM walks side by side with the communities in Malaysia. How can I not be inspired by the vision and passion of the generations of women and men who coalesce to form SAM?
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Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Headquarters)
No. 1, Jalan Joki, 11400 Penang,
Malaysia
Tel: +604 827 6930
Fax: +604 827 6932

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Marudi Office)
129A, First Floor,
Jalan Tuanku Taha,
P.O.Box 216,
98058 Marudi, Baram, Sarawak,
Malaysia
Tel & Fax: +6085 758 973

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