40. Regulate Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)

WHEREAS Biotech breakthroughs of GMO plants are developing faster than studies can be done to confirm safety to health, agriculture and environment, and

WHEREAS Many, if not all, GMO's include a "terminator" gene which renders the plants sterile (put there solely to force farmers to buy new seed every year) and it is unknown whether this terminator gene may mix with normal seeds, causing our non-GMO plants to become sterile, and

WHEREAS the uncertainty regarding long term, possibly irreversible effects of GMO crops mandates the use of the precautionary principle: All products are presumed to be ineffective and damaging until empirical data proves (on a case by case basis) otherwise and

WHEREAS Regulatory agencies are not requiring adequate safety data from these industries prior to marketing or field trials and therefore there are no incentives for industry to sponsor safety studies and

WHEREAS there is a serious potential for, and appearance of, conflict of interest among industry, regulatory agencies and university departments receiving industry research grants. Potential benefits may be overstated and potential risks downplayed and

WHEREAS it is inappropriate for industry to set policy and regulation in this area.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Regulatory agencies at both the federal and county levels (based on federal FDA IRB principles):

• Establish guidelines for safety as related to health (occupational and community), environment and agriculture
• Approve/disapprove of all GM crops to be planted in communities
• Monitor and enforce violations to required safety procedures.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Federal and state agencies promote examination of GM product safety by:

• Allocating research funds for safety studies,
• Identifying institutions (including international agencies) without conflict of interest to conduct safety assessments,
• Insuring that regulatory boards require adequate safety studies prior to marketing and open field testing,
• Holding GM companies liable for side effects which should have been detected prior to field or market release,

Investigating post-marketing complaints of side effects associated with GM products (to facilitate these investigations, labeling of GM products should be required).

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that companies involved in open air testing of GMO crops shall be strictly liable for any of their genetic material contaminating neighboring crops and shall be subject to government fines for such contamination and, in addition, owners of contaminated crops or land shall be entitled to civil damages.