Government presses on with GMO bill !!

 

The government has insisted on pressing ahead with the enactment
 of a controversial bill regulating genetically modified
organisms (GMOs) amid mounting opposition.

 However, it promised Wednesday to allow representatives of

farmers and activists to air their opinions and share information

 with the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) during the

 bill's vetting.

The move came after networks of farmers who believe they

 will be affected gathered in 46 provinces across the country

to oppose the biosafety bill which received cabinet approval

on Nov 24.

In Bangkok, a group of around 200 representatives from 115

 networks of farmers, along with environmental, health and

 consumer protection activists, gathered yesterday in front

 of Government House to oppose the draft the draft legislation.

 They demanded the government put the bill on hold.

Activists at Government House hand a petition to spokesman

Maj Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd, (lower right), demanding a

 halt to the biosafety bill. (Thanarak Khunton)

The group also called on the government to set up a joint

committee with representatives of farmers and NGOs

 participating to review the bill before it is forwarded to

 the NLA.

 Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd met with the

 demonstrators and explained to them that the government is ready

 to listen to all opinions concerning the bill, but it is impossible

 to put the legislation on hold. It must continue but the

government is still open for debate regarding its pros and cons,

he said.

"We have to admit that GM products have been marketed in

 the country without laws to regulate them. A law is needed to

control any possible damage and determine who must be

 responsible for such damage," he said.

 "I am certain the NLA members will not pass the bill if they

 find too many weak points. As this is an important issue,

I believe the NLA will set up a committee to consider this

 issue in particular and they will allow stakeholders'

 representatives to air their opinions and share information

 on the matter," Maj Gen Sansern said.

 Yesterday evening, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the

 intensifying opposition to the biosafety bill had irritated him.

 

 "I don't understand why state agencies failed to explain this issue

to the public, as this has resulted in mounting opposition to it,"

he said.

Three controversial bills -- the biosafety and two petroleum-

related bills -- will not be immediately forwarded to the NLA.

 Some sections will be adjusted to ease the concerns of opponents.

"I confirm that I never thought we wanted GMOs in Thailand,"

 Gen Prayut said.

However, the government's message has not convinced the

 GMO-regulating bill protesters.

 Witoon Lienchamroon, director of BioThai, said he would

 give the government some time to come up with a clear answer

on how it will proceed with the bill.

However, he said speeches from the government spokesman

 do not represent an official message from the regime.

 He also insisted that the government should suspend the bill

from being forwarded to the NLA and set up a joint committee

 to rewrite it. The joint committee must include all stakeholders,

especially farmers who are directly impacted by the bill,

Mr Witoon said.

 Stronger action by the networks will be organized if the

government ignores their calls, he said.

 Suree Yodprachong, chairwoman of Thai Tapioca Starch

 Association, said the government should listen to the opinions

 of the bill's opponents' as GM contamination of the environment

will definitely have a negative impact on 530,000 cassava

farmer families nationwide and the tapioca starch business

that generate revenues of more than 70 billion baht and

140 billion baht each year respectively.

 She said all the major starch markets in China, Europe and

the United States also oppose GM crops. "If GM crops are

 allowed to be commercially planted, which is possible under

 the controversial bill, then there is no guarantee that GM

contamination will not be released into the environment and

 that would cause severe damage," she said.

Ms Suree said orders from overseas markets would fall

 substantially as had happened with canned fruit from Thailand

 when GM papaya was found in the past.

Meanwhile, Kasemsun Chinnavaso, the Natural Resources and

Environment Ministry's permanent secretary, said yesterday

 the country needs to have the biosafety law as currently

 there is no law controlling and supervising the research and

study of GM crops, meaning the country is at risk of spreading

 GM contamination into the environment.

News,General,Bangkok Post, 10 December 2015.

 

As the world market do not  want GMOs crop,why we

plant it our country.

For I think our crop from natural  is the best for the country

and the world.

If the biosafety law is helpful to lead our crop in the future

it should be consider.

 

Sincerely Yours.