European Parliament
To the attention of the President of the European Parliament
Nicole Fontaine
Wiertzstraat
B-1047 Brussel
Belgium

Rotterdam, 1st November 1999.

Dear President Mrs. Nicole Fontaine,

Ref.: Proposal for a new law in which a thresholdvalue of 1% for genetic manipulated ingredients in our food is arranged . (Dutch newsreport 22.10.99)

I protest very strongly to the idea of above mentioned law.

First of all nobody has the right to change my food without me knowing what I am consuming. Even…..1% or less is too much with respect to genetic manipulation in my food.

The discussion about thresholdvalues we consider a non-discussion. Why is it a non-discussion? Because as a result of the law of cause and effect a slight incentive especially in crops can have enormous consequences. These consequences and the risks therefore are very disputable until the present day. (We refer a.o. to The Lancet of October 1999 and to two private Amsterdam citizens Eijsten/van der Meulen. The petitions submitted by them against requests for market admission and for field testing of genetic manipulation organisms based on literature about scientific research is to be found on: http://www.xs4all.nl/~jwbos/eijsten/index.html

It really is absurd that European governments have the idea that they can pass legislation in which it is arranged that the industry is legally allowed to contaminate our food with genetically manipulated organisms. In other words the European Governments have the intention to take away the freedom of choice from the consumer. We draw your attention to the fact that you do not only represent the industry but much more the well - being of the citizens of Europe

In this context I refer to an article in Consumers Magazine of September 1999 of the Dutch Consumersunion they wrote '….Genetic modificated (means manipulated) crops could run wild …..that the effects of genetic modification on the human body have not been clear yet and it could have its effects on foodsafety and on the environment etc….'. The Dutch Volkskrant (daily newspaper) 23/10/99 quoted a pronouncement of Dr. Ing. Harry Kuiper, executive of the Dutch State Institute for Quality Control of Agriculture, who in The Lancet said: 'Especially I am concerned about the second generation of genetic manipulated products of which the components have been changed by genetic manipulation. It has to be investigated what will be changed very carefully'.

Based on the above mentioned arguments and the fact that nobody in this world can give you and me any guarantee that genetic manipulated food is safe for human consumption, animals and environment I demand it from you to stop this process immediately. For your information: only in the Netherlands more that 20 social organisations, representing more than millions of Dutch citizens, are demanding a moratorium from the Dutch government.

Looking forward to your answer I remain,

Yours faithfully

Foundation for the Prevention of Abuse of Genetic Manipulation 'VoMiGEN' Westersingel 52, 3014 GV Rotterdam. Tel. 0031-10 2251433 Fax. 0031-10-2251400. E-mail: vomigen@wxs.nl

Robert A. Verlinden/founder.

cc. Mr. Romano Prodi /President of the European Commission
Politics, press, trade and industry, environmental institutes and social organisations. Unilever and Monsanto