From: Chuck Shelton [rainman32164@yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2001 4:39 PM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Docket 00N-1396 and 00D-1598

GENETICALLY ENGINEERED PRODUCTS MUST BE LABELED AND
TESTED FOR SAFETY!

The current proposed rules are unacceptable based on
the fact that they:

* Do not require mandatory pre-market safety testing
* Do not require pre-market environmental review
* Do not require mandatory labeling of GE foods
* Restrict voluntary labeling of non-GE foods
* Require a mere letter of notification prior to the  
marketing of a GE food
* Fail to ensure public access to adequate information
  for independent review
* Are supported by industry and opposed by consumer
groups

All informed Americans including myself demand that:

* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.

As an informed Citizen I consider these issues to be
extremely important and take them very seriously.  I
expect the FDA to do the same.

Sincerely,
Chuck Shelton





=====
Chuck Shelton
(503)295-2012
rainman32164@yahoo.com

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