From: Joelle [joelle@tvi.net]
Sent: Friday, March 30, 2001 1:18 PM
To: president@whitehouse.gov; vice.president@whitehouse.gov; fdadockets@oc.fda.gov; bob_graham@graham.senate.gov; senator@billnelson.senate.gov
Subject: Docket 00N-1396 & Docket 00D-1598

Joelle E. Meehan
9148D SW 21st Ct
Boca Raton, FL  33428

March 30, 2001

Dear President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Commissioner Henney, Senator Graham, Senator Nelson, and Representative Wexler:

I am writing to you to express that I strongly oppose the FDA's proposed regulations (Docket 00N-1396 & Docket 00D-1598) on genetically engineered (GE) foods which only provide for a voluntary labeling and notification process for these foods.  
    a..   The FDA must require mandatory pre-market comprehensive 
      environmental review. Unlike conventional pollutants, 
      where a given amount of pollutant causes a limited amount 
      of damage, a small number of mutant genes could have a 
      population explosion and reproduce forever, causing 
      unlimited and irreparable damage. 
    b..   The FDA must require mandatory pre-market long-term health 
      testing. GE products could be toxic, cause allergic 
      responses, have lower nutritional value, and compromise 
      immune responses in consumers. 
    c..   The FDA must require mandatory labeling of GE products. 
      Without mandatory labeling, neither consumers nor health 
      professionals will know if an allergic or toxic reaction 
      was the result of a genetically engineered food. Consumers 
      would be deprived of the critical knowledge needed to hold 
      food producers liable should any of these novel products 
      be hazardous.   
    d..   The FDA must end its cozy relationship with the industries
      it purports to be regulating. People have been allowed to 
      work for a biotech company, then work for the FDA writing the 
      regulatory rules on that company's product, then go back to
      working for the company.  Ninety-two percent of FDA advisory 
      committee meetings had at least one conflict of interest.
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter.  Please listen to the concerns and opinions of the American public and do not let Docket 00N-1396 & Docket 00D-1598 go through in their current state.  Please revise them to include the above.  

Sincerely,
Joelle E. Meehan