Comment from Erica Gray

I am commenting on APHIS 2006-0112 Introduction of Organisms and Products Altered or Produced Through Genetic Engineering. Rightly so, genetically engineered plants are noxious weeds, if you?re an organic grower or natural foods consumer. In such a short period of time, we?ve gone from the green revolution, using modern chemistry to contaminate our bodies and the environment to the gene revolution, with it?s novel ways to alter life. Making combinations never before possible by crossing over genetic barriers, mixing genes of different species and carrying traits produced in labs. The past few years GE contamination episodes have gone under the publics radar as a whole and most Americans still do not know they are eating genetically engineered foods, nor do they know what they are. These experimental foods were rushed to market after our governmental agencies deemed GE foods equivalent so no extra safety tests needed to be done and they decided they didn?t need to be labeled either. But are patented. All GE food/crops already present should be regulated. Altering food/crops using biotechnology is new, novel ,warrants complete study and the public has a right to know if a product has been genetically engineered. Besides possible health risks there are ethical as well as religious beliefs that need to be considered. As it goes for GE biological control organisms?Just because we think we can, doesn?t mean we should. Playing God, altering life in such fundamental ways, is dangerous. From what I understand, European GE food products are labeled if they contain over .9 % Where exactly do we stand in the USA? What levels are we unwittingly consuming and how many varieties? Perhaps it would be wise to stop adding new ones until we can assess what we already have out there. Absolutely no food crops should be genetically engineered to produce pharmaceuticals or industrial compounds and grown in the outdoors. Stringent oversight? Starting when? How much GE contamination is already present? Advantageous presence or any ?low? level is unacceptable! The companies responsible for the genetic pollution/contamination should he held liable. What will be the punishment for crimes against humanity? Transparency? Where and when should be the question? ?APHIS has always used a risk-based approach in regulating ge organisms?? Really? Where is the EIS on the 1000?s of acres of GE alfalfa that was just deemed illegal? As I see it, our governmental agencies that are suppose to protect the health and the environment of the American people are already overwhelmed and under funded. Yet there does seem to be a revolving door present. Using statements like, well studied, low risks, when talking about GMO?s is ridiculous. What is considered well studied or better yet who did the studying? The company that produced them and for how long? Low risks? ?This is OUR food supply and OUR GENETIC HERITAGE! Organic food should be grandfathered in and protected. What about Trade? As long as we are willing to dish out GMO?s we can expect the likes to be to imported. And we thought the contaminated toothpaste, pet food, faulty tires and lead paint in toys were bad. Thank you, Erica Gray ?What could be more ironic than the fact, that the solution which they are suggesting are not only more problematic but also totally unsustainable??