U.S. Chamber Opposes Changing Biotech Food Regulations

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The United States Chamber of Commerce told the Food and Drug Administration it opposes changing regulations for biotechnology foods, which have come under attack from extreme environmental and consumer-activist groups because of unfounded fears of the new technology.

William Kovacs, the Chamber's Vice President for Environment and Regulatory Affairs, said the FDA should continue with its current testing policies, which ensure that biotech foods going to market are completely safe for consumers.

"Biotech companies already perform meticulous tests, at their own expense, before the foods can be approved," Kovacs wrote in response to the FDA's request for comments on its biotech foods policy. "Any changes in current policy will surely confuse consumers, and worse, imply that biotech foods are risky."

Some biotech foods undergo as many as 1,500 to more than 2,000 tests, lasting several years. Test findings must then be submitted to FDA for approval.

"This process ensures safety, and reinforces FDA's policy of the science-based safety of biotech foods," he said.

Biotechnology is one of the most important technological advances in food production and processing, Kovacs said. It will be critical to feeding the earth's expected population of 9 billion by 2050.

Biotech foods allow farmers to produce greater amounts of food on less land and with less use of pesticides and fertilizers. Drought-stricken areas or places with poor quality farmland will be able to grow nutritious, healthy crops because of biotechnology, Kovacs said.

He warned regulators not to fall prey to extremists groups that, for their own purposes, are trying to derail the important gains made in biotech food production. "Science, not emotionalism and politics, must be the guide," Kovacs said.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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