Dear Friends and colleagues,

RE: ECUADOREAN PARLIAMENT PASSES LAW BANNING GMO IN FOOD AID

We wish to bring to your attention that the Ecuadorean Parliament has passed a law which bans the presence of GMOs in food aid.

Food aid has become controversial in recent years as some parties, namely the US, have insisted that countries facing famine should accept GM food aid, even though some countries have rejected it.

The fact that countries and people require food assistance should not be a reason to deprive them of the choice to obtain non-GM food. Countries' right to reject GM food aid should be respected and all means should be taken to provide non-GM food to countries that do not want to receive GM food.

Ecuador's decision to ban GM food aid is in line with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety which enshrines the sovereign right of countries to be informed of, and to take precautionary decisions, on imports of GMOs.

With best wishes,
Chee Yoke Heong
Third World Network
121-S Jalan Utama
10450 Penang
Malaysia
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.biosafety-info.net and www.twnside.org.sg

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ECUADOREAN PARLIAMENT PASSED A LAW WHICH BAN GMO IN FOOD AID ACCION ECOLOGICA
18 May 2006

The Ecuadorean Parliament passed a law, which ban the presence of GMO in food aid.

This provision was part of a law of food security, which also include concepts such as the promotion of food security through supporting local production, reducing the dependency on imported food and donations.

The idea of having a law on food security was promoted by FAO. Later the text was discussed by indigenous, farmers and consumer1s organizations; and concluded with a text, which pretend reach food security through food sovereignty.

In Ecuador, GMOs has being found in food aid programs before. With this law the local population which participate in these programs (mainly indigenous people and poor farmers), can ensure that the food they are receving is GE free.