JOHANNESBURG, 30 August 2002 -
Countries in Southern Africa whose populations are facing a
devastating drought should carefully consider current scientific
knowledge before rejecting food aid containing genetically
modified organisms (GMOs), Dr. Jacques Diouf, Director-General
of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),
said.
Addressing a press conference at the
World Summit on Sustainable Development, Dr. Diouf said that 13
million people were estimated to be in need of food assistance
in coming months to avoid widespread starvation in the region.
He noted that there were currently no
international agreements in force covering trade and aid
involving food containing GMOs. An ad hoc committee of Codex
Alimentarius, the joint FAO-WHO Food Safety body, was working to
develop appropriate standards.
"In
the meantime, the important thing is that all donated food meets
the food safety standards of both the donor and recipient
countries.
"FAO, together with the
World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Food Programme
(WFP), takes the view, based on information from a variety of
sources and current scientific knowledge, that the food being
offered to Southern African countries is not likely to present a
human health risk and may be eaten," Dr. Diouf said.
"The United Nations therefore
believes that in the current crisis, governments in Southern
Africa must consider carefully the severe and immediate
consequences of limiting food aid available for millions of
people so desperately in need," Dr. Diouf said.
"Their plight must weigh heavily in government
decision-making," he added.
Referring to concerns about the unintentional
introduction of GM maize varieties into the region as a result
of planting or spillage, Dr. Diouf said he recognised that there
were concerns about potential risks to biological diversity and
sustainable agriculture.
However these
potential risks should be judged and managed by individual
countries on a case by case basis. In the specific case of
maize, which was known for its propensity to outcross,
governments could consider using techniques such as milling or
heat treatment to avoid inadvertent introduction of genetically
modified seed. However, it was not UN policy that GM grain used
for food, feed or processing should necessarily require such
treatments.
Dr. Diouf said that he would be
taking advantage of his attendance at the Summit to hold
bilateral meetings with governments from the region to discuss
their food security situation, and also the outbreak of foot and
mouth disease.