Post on 03-Jun-2018
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rDNA technologies, regulatory concerns, labeling
rDNA technologies deployed in agriculture
Regulatory concerns: food safety, ecology, economy
Laws governing food containing GMOs Beyond food and evil: The limits of organic labeling
as a basis for a comprehensive GMO policy
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rDNA technologies
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Regulatory concerns
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Regulatory concerns Lack of fitness for human consumption
Adulteration: general population. Starlink
Genetic source: specific, sensitive population
Biological breakouts
Hybridization with wild relatives. GM canola
Super salmon outcompete wild relatives
Smaller organisms, faster evolutionary clock
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Regulatory concerns, continued Resistance in targetorganisms
Bt-resistant insects
Cf.glyphosate resistance and the impact of
nontherapeutic antibiotic use on human health
Unintended harm to nontargetorganisms
Bts impact on all Lepidoptera(monarch)
Cf.bee colony collapse and bioaccumulation
Economic injury to nonadopting farmers
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Laws regulating GMO use
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Labeling rules under the FD&CA and OFPA
FD&CA402(a)(1), 409: adulteration
Outright bans and targeted labeling
FD&CA201(n), 403(a)(1):
misbranding
New Plant Varieties(1992)
GRAS under201(s), 409
No across-the-board labeling requirement
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Labeling rules, continued Premarket Biotechology Noticesand
Voluntary Labeling Guidance(2001)
GM foods are presumptively marketable after
completion of the PBN process
Labels disclosing GMOs are not required
GM/biotech free labels need disclaimers
OFPA: The organic label has become the
de factosignal of non-GMO status
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The limits of labeling as GMO regulation
The OFPA lacks the FD&CAs consumer
protection mandate
FD&CA patrols adulteration andmisbranding
Organic makes no claims regarding the
intrinsic safety or value of food. Nor could it.
Often the right answer is an outright ban ora production-level limit, not a label
Little or no impact on farm size or structure
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Beyond food and evil Behavioral psychology and the mindscape
of American agricultural policy
Labeling puts all the weight of profound policy
decisions on consumer-level choices
Food choices are notoriously irrational
Sweet and greasy foods naturally appeal Every child knows that finicky eaters survive
Law, science, and safety in the balance
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Thank you
Jim Chenjim.chen@louisville.edu
502-852-6879