GM CROPS AND FOOD SAFETY IN SOUTH AFRICA Dear Consumer, In view of the current debate on the safety of GM foods,

AfricaBio has put together the following information: 1. INTRODUCTION

In South Africa, the development, production, use and application of all genetically modified organisms is subject to the provisions and conditions contained in the GMO Act, 1997 (Act No. 15 of 1997) and the Genetically Modified Organisms Amendment Act, 2006 (Act No. 23 of 2006). The main purpose of the GMO Act is to ensure that all activities involving the use of genetically modified organisms (including importation, production, release and distribution) are carried out in such a way as to minimise possible harmful effects, establish for the evaluation and reduction of any risk from the use of genetically modified organisms and to lay down the necessary requirements and criteria for risk assessments. In brief, the GMO Act is there to ensure that all GMOs used in South Africa do not pose an unacceptable risk to consumers or the environment. To achieve this objective, the GMO Act makes provision for the establishment of an Executive Council whose members are drawn from. Permission for the commercial (general) release of any GMO is authorised by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries on a recommendation from the Executive Council (GMO Act, 1997). The Executive Council consists of representatives drawn from those government departments most directly concerned with the development and use of GMOs such as the National Department of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries, Environmental Affairs & Tourism, Health, Science & Technology and Trade & Industry who consider each application and make a decision based on consensus. The data submitted in support of an application for the general release of a GM crop is objectively and scientifically evaluated by a panel of independent experts and that their conclusions and recommendations are passed to the Executive Committee. 2. THE CONCERN

Those protesting against the consumption of GM foods argue that traditional foods have been developed by farmers over the last 10 000 years and are accepted as being safe because humans have been eating them for such a long time. However, the same is not true of GMOs. They maintain that it has not been established what impacts GM crops might have on our bodies or on the environment over time. That it is just too soon to tell as the technology is too new and not enough independent research has been done. In a recent series of publications and public demonstrations, ACB and its supporters now call for South Africa to ban all GM foods on the basis that they are unsafe to eat. This call is publishing the finding that five of Tiger Brands' most popular maize based products contain a high percentage of GM maize.

Ace super maize meal Ace maize rice Ace instant porridge Lion samp and beans Jungle B'fast energy cereal 3. OUR REBUTTAL We would like to point out that:

78% GM maize content. 70% GM maize content. 68% GM maize content. 48% GM maize content 41% GM maize content

a) GM crops have been grown and consumed in South Africa for the past 15 years. During this period not a single substantiated case of harm being caused from the consumption of officially approved GM products was reported. We are, therefore, confident that the present GMO legislation is sufficient to ensure that South Africans will continue to enjoy the benefits of modern biotechnology without being exposed to an unacceptable level of risk. b) Given the scope and authority of the GMO Act and the GMO Amendment Act it should be patently clear that those GM products approved by the Executive Council and Minister for use in South Africa, have been thoroughly evaluated and pose little or no risk to consumers and the environment. c) In 2012 the total GM crop area in South Africa was 2.9 million hectares made up of 2.43 million hectares of GM maize (86%), 450,000 hectares of GM soybean (90%) and 15,000 hectares of GM cotton (100%). Globally, the cultivation of GM crops was been adopted by 28 countries and in Africa, South African, Burkina Faso, Egypt and Sudan made commercial plantings. d) The economic gains from GM crops for South Africa for the period 1998 to 2011 was estimated to be about US$933 million with US$98 million for 2011 alone. The Increased yields and incomes have created employment while the 2012 maize surplus was largely due to the increased yields as a result of improved GM seeds. e) A drought tolerant maize variety is now under trail in five African countries, including South Africa, and this is expected to mitigate the effects of climate change that are starting to impact on our farmers. f) The composition of Tiger Brands products should not have come as any surprise seeing that most of South Africas maize is GM. However, in the hysteria that ACB has sought to create there are a number of questions that need to be answered for example what is really meant by the term %GM, what was measured, how was it measured and who measured it? g) We find these sensationalised campaigns to be of major concern, as there is absolutely nothing wrong with these products. No approved biotech food has been recalled due to food safety issues. All available evidence to date shows that foods derived from biotech crops are as safe as foods from non-biotech crops h) There is a large body of documented scientific testing showing currently authorized GM crops are safe1,2. These studies focus on the wholesomeness and nutritional value of GM crops and upon the safety of the specific modifications used. In addition, the following independent bodies are on record as saying that GM foods are not significantly different from their conventional counterparts: American Medical Association (AMA)
1 2

Center for Environmental Risk Assessment (http://cera-gmc.org/index.php?action=gm_crop_database) http://chilebio.cl/documentos/Publicaciones.pdf

American Society of Microbiology (ASM) Australia New Zealand Food Authority Brazilian Academy of Sciences Chinese Academy of Sciences Food & Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations Indian National; Science Academy International Society of African Scientists International Society for Plant Molecular Biology Mexican Academy of Sciences National Academy of Sciences (US) National Research Council (US) Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Royal Society of London Society for in vitro Biology Third World Academy of Sciences World Health Organisation US Environmental Protection Agency US Food & Drug Administration

I would be happy to expand on any of the above points, should this be considered necessary. Yours sincerely, Nompumelelo Obokoh, PhD - Cantab, Pr.Sci.Nat. CEO: AfricaBio