HEALTH-JAPAN: NO GENETICALLY-ALTERED FOOD PLEASE
OTC 07.04.98 02:56
TOKYO, (Apr. 6) IPS - A growing number of Japanese consumers are up in arms against the
imports of genetically modified food products, which are not subject to labelling despite
their easy availability here.
Despite assurances from the government, consumer groups say these products could be
hazardous to health and carry serious environmental implications.
"The Japanese are being used as guinea pigs by rich countries and their corporations
in the experiment of expanding genetically modified food," says Setsuko Yasuda of the
Consumer Union of Japan. "But the message from us is 'Stop.'"
In 1996 the health ministry approved the local sale of 20 types of genetically modified
food products, including soybeans and rapeseed that are an essential part of the Japanese
diet.
Genetically engineered soybeans and rapeseed, 90 percent of whose supply comes from
imports, are resistant to herbicides. Bacterial genes in these crops allow them to
tolerate chemical weed-killers. Genetically modified corn and potatoes secrete
insecticidal toxins that kill pests.
These innovations, produced under a process that involves taking genes from bacteria and
carrying desired properties, then introducing them into plant genes. Plants are often
genetically altered to become more resistant to herbicides and pests, making them easier
to grow, cheaper and have longer shelf life.
But Japanese activists are not all convinced about the merits of this technological
breakthrough.
The leading company Kirin Brewery recently paid an American company to obtain technology
to develop in Japan genetically recombined tomatoes, which have longer storage lives.
But the company decided to delay introduction of the tomatoes because Japanese consumers
are "not ready", Kirin officials said. To keep the pressure up, Yasuda is
leading a boycott campaign against Kirin products, an unprecedented move in Japan's
usually docile consumer market.
Activists are also in the midst of a campaign, called "Down with Genetically
Engineered Food," that was launched in November 1996 to press Tokyo for tighter
regulations on genetically modified food. The campaign groups Yasuda's organization with
environmental groups and 500 local assemblies.
As part of the campaign, Yasuda presented one million signatures to the health and welfare
ministry last year, from consumers who asked that the imports of genetically engineered
food products be halted till their health risks be scientifically evaluated.
They demanded that the government establish a mandatory labeling process that would
clearly differentiate between genetically modified products and those grown
conventionally.
"Europe, a major importer of genetically modified food from the U.S., has a clear
labeling system. This is the very least that can be done to protect the consumer,"
explained Yasuda.
Officials say compulsory labelling would be difficult because Japan relies heavily on
imported food and farm products.
Yasuda, however, says the issue is tied to Japan's commitment to step up imports from
overseas. "The government is dragging its feet on the issue because of pressure from
the United States to increase imports of its products," she explained.
In December 1997, the agricultural ministry dropped plans requiring food producers to
state on labels whether a product was developed using genetic engineering technology. The
reversal came after the U.S. complained that obligatory labeling would constitute a
non-tariff trade barrier.
Already, agricultural exports from the United States top the list of Japan's massive bill
for food imports -- 10 percent of the national budget.
Japan has been under pressure from Washington to open its markets, and in 1993 for
instance had to open its rice market. Criticized for its ballooning trade surplus with the
U.S., Tokyo has promised to join multilateral negotiations toward further liberalisation
in 1999.
Citizens' groups say the issue of food imports has highlighted Japan's heavy dependence on
overseas markets and foreign farmers, since more than 50 percent of Japanese' calorie
intake relies on foreign grown food.
Noriko Iseki, an official at the health and welfare ministry, says genetically modified
food imports are safe and cannot understand what all the fuss is about. "If the
government thought the imports are a health hazard, then imports would be banned in the
first place," she pointed out.
The ministry now checks safety certificates that come with imports of genetically
engineered food products from the U.S. and Canada.
But Koa Tanaka, a chemistry professor at International Christian University, says
consumers' fears may not be unreasonable.
For instance, he cites reports that the use of chemical weed-killers on transgenic
soybeans stimulate production of a soybean estrogen, a harmful substance similar to the
female sex hormone.
Since Japanese eat a lot of soybean products, ingesting products made with genetically
modified soybean might have the harmful effect of making a male fetus become feminine or
prevent the full formation of male genitals in babies, he explained.
But proponents see genetically modified food products as an answer to global agricultural
and food problems.
"Genetically altered food will benefit farmers by enabling them to cultivate crops
easier in shorter periods," said Tomomi Sakamoto of Monsanto Japan Ltd, which imports
soybeans from the U.S. "With more food developed there can be distribution to people
in developing countries."
Copyright 1998