CANADA SMELLING WITH GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISM
MIROSŁAW PIOTROWSKI
For a short time Canada has exported also genetically modified apples which do not turn brown even when being cut half.
In the European Union the atmosphere got tense. Protesters came into streets of many European cities. They were protesting against the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement ( CETA) between the European Union and Canada. Its signing was blocked by the parliament of small Walloon. The official summit meeting European Union and Canada, planned on 27 October this year, was cancelled. What concerns the most is a probability of import of genetically modified food to EU countries from Canada. For, Canada belongs to the biggest producers of the genetically modified organisms in the world. Crops of artificially changed plants, appearing in the process of genetic engineering, take over 10 million ha of the area of Canada. Crops of genetically modified organisms in Canada were grown 20 years ago. It mainly concerns growing turnip, cotton, soya, corn, sugar beetroots and food for animals. It is a short time since Canada has been exporting also genetically modified apples, which do not turn brown even when being cut half. It also sells genetically modified salmon into which growth hormones of other fish are injected. Permission for sale also concerns derivative so-called fish fillets, fish oil or fish meal. What is permitted in Canada, it is often prohibited in the European Union, like some food colorants. A similar thing concerns beef and chickens. In Canada it was permitted to use ractopamine thanks to which animals put on weight more quickly. This substance in the EU countries is prohibited. There is a serious concern that after signing the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, the European Union will reduce its norms providing the quality and safety of food. When I am talking with euro-deputies about the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, and when the European Parliament is to deal with this issue, most of them emphasize at once that they support cooperation and trade with Canada. The further talk shows however, that not only are they not aware of the fact that its text with enclosures, depending on a language, comprises from 1400 to 1600 pages. But, well, for most of them Canada smells only with natural resin.
AA
„Niedziela” 45/2016