RSS
Home
Genetically engineered vaccines show up in use on household pets as well as organic livestock
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Vaccines are allowed in organic livestock production. I can understand that. However ,recently Ireceived an email from the Organic Consumers Organization indicating that genetically engineered (GE)vaccines are frequently used on organic livestock.
Now, according to federal law, genetically modified vaccines are excluded from organic livestock production. So that means currently, in opposition to federal law, genetically engineered vaccines are being used in organic livestock production.
The environmental risks are well known. The production of genetically engineered animal vaccines results in the contamination of food crops. Biotech firm ProdiGene contaminated half a million (500,000) bushels of soybeans. The contamination is believed to have occured when soybeans were planted on a site used a year earlier to grow genetically modified pharmaceutical corn for use in a trial vaccine for a pig disease. Then Iowa Governor Vilsack defended ProdiGene,"we should not overreact and hamstring this industry or limit Iowa's ability to participate in this emerging industry."
Scientists have repeatedly, in all medias, warned that "genetically engineered vaccines possess
significant unpredictability and a number of inherent harmful potential hazards."
The Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health published a research article by Vivian Chan. The title was, "Use of genetically modified viruses and genetically engineered virus vector vaccines: environmental consequnces. According to the article,"There is inadequate knowledge to define either the probability of unintended events or the consequences of genetic modifications."
Veterinarians have also issued statements, "The widespread dissemination of live genetically engineered (GE) viruses is a high-risk, low health priority that if not prohibited or controlled internationally could amount to a biomeolecular assault on the life community of planet Earth. It could, through viral mutations and non-target host transformations, lead to the devastation of human civilization, and to animal populations wild and domestic."
According to Veterinarian Michael W. Fox, BVetMed, PhD,"As one who has followed developments in genetic engineering biotechnology for some years, I have become increasingly concerned over the use of modified live and genetically engineered (GE) vaccines in companion animals and farmed animals.
Hundreds of thousands of cats have been injected with a non-adjuvanted recombinant rabies vaccine spliced with the canary pox virus."
So now it gets personal, our dogs and cats or whatever animals might be living with us may be getting GE or GM vaccinations. That is firghtening.
To conclude, the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) will be considering a recommendation at their November 3-5, 2009 meeting in Washington, DC to allow unrestricted use of genetically engineered vaccines in organic livestock production which as you now know trickles down to your veterinarian's office. This 15-member board assists the Secretary of Agriculture in developing standards for substances to be used in organic production. The NOSB also advises the Secretary on other aspects of implementing the national organic program.
For more information on the NOSB and the unrestricted use of GE and GM vaccines for animals, go to www.ams.usda.gov/NOSB.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
