United States Position: GMOs are safe

The six hormones at issue are estradial 17?, testosterone, progesterone, zeranol, trenbolone acetate and melengestrol acetate (MGA). The USA argues that these products have been used for growth promotion in cattle for decades in several countries and meat from such cattle have been consumed by millions without any risk or harm to human health.  Consumers benefit from the greater availability of meat, a leaner cut of meat and lower retail prices.

Three of the hormones estradial 17?, testosterone and progesterone are naturally found in both cattle and humans. The other three are synthetic that mimic the action of their natural counterparts. Hormone residue levels in treated cattle are almost the same as that found in untreated cattle. The consensus of detailed studies by national authorities and Codex (the international standard setting organization) has found that meat of cattle treated with these hormones is safe.

Source: United States-Continued Suspension of Concessions in the EC-Hormones Dispute.  Oral Statement of the United States at the First Substantive Meeting of the Panel. September 11, 2005

EU/NGO Positions:  GMOs are not safe

We cannot reach a blank scientific conclusion on the safety of a class of products of rDNA technology; we have to investigate each case by itself. In this respect the studies quoted by the US contain internal contradictions. For example, the studies quoted come up with a conclusion that there is no evidence of harm from the GMOs based on extensive criticisms of the biotech testing procedures upon which the claims are made. These no-evidence claims are used to illegitimately dismiss legitimate concerns about the human risks of GMOs. Further there is yet to be conducted (what is standard practice when marketing a drug) a post-marketing surveillance to detect harmful human impacts of the GMOs. Given this lack of data, we cannot come to the conclusion that there is no evidence of the harmful impacts of the GMOs.

Even when evidence is exists it is not available for public and scholarly scrutiny because of intellectual property rights.  Further the majority of pre-market studies do not follow those standard external peer-review mechanisms of scientific and academic practice. As such regulators base their results on incomplete data.

There are three types of uncertainties regarding GMOs:

1. The unintended effects of genetic modification arising from the random nature of rDNA techniques, the use of powerful promoter sequences to drive expression of the transgene, and the ignorance of organismal genomes and their cellular interactions.
2. Uncertainty regarding the effects of exposing humans, animals and other living organisms to the novel proteins generated by many GMOs.
3. Uncertainty regarding the environmental impacts of GMOs.

These uncertainties are so substantial to prevent an adequate consideration of the risks involved with GMOs. Hence citizens, regulators and policy makers should be cautious in approving GMO modified products.

Source: European Communities- Measures Affecting the Approval and Marketing of Biotech Products. AmicusCuriae Brief. June 1, 2004. Center for International Environmental Law, Friends of the Earth-US, Defenders of Wildlife, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Organic Consumers Association-USA.