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17 September 2006
REQUEST FOR SAFEGUARD ACTION - LL601 rice contamination
Dear Minister,
Thank you for your email of 15 September which was forwarded, on
behalf of The Welsh Assembly Government, in response to both of our
Open Communications addressed to The First Minister.
You will be aware of our communication to Mr John Harwood, copy below,
about the "secret" meeting that Dr Clair Baynton chaired on 5 September,
and the advice which was provided to the FSA by certain unnamed members
of the ACNFP. This advice underpinned the FSA guidance to the British public
that they could go ahead and eat American long grain rice, whether contaminated
or not. This advice, despite our protests to the Food Standards Agency, remains
on their website at:
rice.http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2006/sep/gmricetest
From the major Press coverage on this issue today, in both The Independent
on
Sunday and Scottish Herald, it seems increasingly clear that the Food Standards
Agency has failed to act in the public interest and, indeed, may have broken
the law.
It has certainly advised others to break the law, and that is a serious matter.
You will be aware that FOE is now taking legal action against FSA on the
grounds that it has woefully neglected to do its duty. It is pertinent that:
"The Food Standards Agency Board members are appointed to act collectively
in the
public interest, not represent specific sectors. Members are responsible
for overall
strategic direction, ensuring the Agency fulfils its legal obligations so
that its decisions
or action take proper account of scientific advice, the interests of the
consumer and
other relevant factors."
http://www.food.gov.uk/aboutus
Clearly there has now been a serious failure by the Food Standards
Agency to act in the interests of the consumer, and urgent remedial
action is now required by you, to safeguard the health of the people of
Wales. Accordingly we request you take immediate action to exercise
your authority as laid down at paragraph 24.-(1) of The Food Standards
Act 1999:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1999/90028--a.htm#1
on the basis that the Agency in Wales has failed to perform its duties
(cf Sections 22-25 ). In the absence of any statements from
Welsh FSA staff, or from the Welsh FSA Board member, or from the
Welsh Food Advisory Committee, it has to be assumed that they are all
fully in agreement with what the FSA has been doing in London. That
means that they are party to the lying and deceitful behaviour which
has today been exposed in the national press. We therefore look to
you to "give the Agency such directions as you may consider
appropriate for remedying that failure."
Those instructions should include an immediate programme of testing
for LL601 on American long grain rice products already on shop
shelves; a removal of products proved to be at risk (two products on
Morrisons shelves have already proved positive for GM contamination);
and advice to the public in Wales that they should NOT for the time
being consume any products containing American long-grain rice.
Those should be minimal first steps in a situation which is evolving
rapidly.
As this is an exceptionally serious issue (about which we have warned
you for at least 3 weeks) we would be grateful for your
acknowledgement of receipt of this letter, and for a confirmation
that you will now place your firm instructions before FSA Wales.
Yours Sincerely
Ian Panton
GMFree Cymru
Appended:
1. Open Letter to John Harwood dated 9 September
2. The Independent on Sunday, 17 September 2006. GM: The cover-up
- LEAD STORY/FRONT PAGE
3. The Independent on Sunday, 17 September 2006. Time to guard the
shelves - LEADING ARTICLE
4. Sale of illegal GM rice in Scotland sanctioned by food safety
watchdog, Sunday Herald, 17 September 2006
5. GM Free Cymru Press release 12 September 2006
FSA TELLS FOOD INDUSTRY CHIEFS THEY CAN SELL ILLEGAL GM RICE --
AS CONTA