Text: Glickman on Agricultural Biotechnology Initiative

Washington -- U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman says the United States must ensure that the U.S. agricultural biotechnology approval process is built upon the most accurate and reliable science.

Additionally, Glickman said the government must do a better job of communicating with the general public about the safety and enormous potential of agricultural biotechnology for food security worldwide.

That is why the Clinton administration announced new initiatives May 3 to strengthen the science-based regulation of agricultural biotechnology, provide the public with additional accurate information, and prepare for future innovations, Glickman said May 4 before a meeting of the National Academy of Sciences' Standing Committee on Biotechnology, Food and Fiber Production and the Environment.

Glickman said the Clinton initiatives will strengthen and update the regulatory framework, assess developments in biotechnology in relationship to biotech-related environmental regulations, and make recommendations where needed to enhance oversight.

Additionally, the initiatives will require companies to give adequate notice to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before releasing new biotech food products to consumers, he said. And, the information submitted by the company and the FDA's conclusions about the product's safety will be made publicly available, he said.

These measures are increasingly necessary, Glickman said, because of the very rapid advances being made in this new technology almost daily.

Following are abbreviations used in the text:

-- USDA: U.S. Department of Agriculture.

-- NAS: National Academy of Sciences.

-- FDA: U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

-- GMOs: Genetically modified organisms.

Following is the text of Glickman's remarks as prepared for delivery:

(begin text)

Remarks As Prepared for Delivery

by

Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman

National Academy of Sciences

1st Meeting of Standing Committee on Biotechnology Food and Fiber Production, and The Environment Washington, D.C.

May 4, 2000

Thank you very much. I'm glad to be here for your first meeting, and I want to thank you for serving. I believe that this Standing Committee will only strengthen the long-standing partnership between USDA and NAS, helping our farmers become more productive and giving consumers around the world a healthier and more abundant food supply.

Deputy Secretary Rominger will talk more in a minute about how you can best help us in your review of our biotechnology approval process. But I want to focus, for the few minutes that I have, on the Clinton Administration's new set of biotechnology initiatives what they are, what they mean, and what role there might be for NAS.

I believe in biotechnology and all the good it can do. And I believe in the safety of biotechnology products. But I also believe that we must remain ever-vigilant and responsive to legitimate questions and concerns. It's clear, from the intense public debate we've all seen over the last year or two, that there is no consensus on biotechnology. Not in the United States and certainly not in Europe and other global markets.

We realize that we have to do more. We have to make every effort to ensure that our biotech approval process is built upon the most up-to-date science. But we also have to do a better job of communicating with consumers. We have to provide them with more information about genetic engineering that they can understand. We have to give them the confidence that only those foods deemed safe for the environment and for human consumption will make it to their grocery store shelves.

This Administration is committed to assuring that our food supply is safe. We have a record that demonstrates that commitment. We have effectively used sound science and sound judgment to reduce foodborne illness in the U.S. and to reduce the exposure of children to pesticide residues on food. Our efforts have also ensured the safety of every agricultural biotech product on the market today, and these efforts will continue into the future as we will serve to ensure the overall safety of products and applications that we can barely even imagine today.

That last point, about the future, is important. We also have to plan for the future and whatever biotechnology marvels or challenges it has in store. That means conducting more forward-looking research and ensuring that our regulations keep pace with innovation. The technology is evolving rapidly. But we can't let it move faster than our ability to manage it -- this will require greater adaptability and increased commitments on the part of the Administration.

So that is what the new Administration initiatives are all about strengthening our science-based regulation of agricultural biotechnology; providing consumers with both accurate information and a safe food supply; preparing for future innovations; as well as promoting commerce and providing market opportunities for U.S. farmers.

Getting to the specifics of the plan ... to strengthen and update our regulatory framework, the Administration will assess developments in the technology and carefully review all biotech-related federal environmental regulations, making recommendations, as needed, to enhance the system.

Secondly, the initiative will require that companies give adequate notice to FDA before releasing new biotech products to consumers. Both the information submitted by the company and the FDA's conclusion about the product's safety will be made available to the public.

The plan also calls for a significant increase in peer-reviewed, competitively awarded research to examine safety issues surrounding biotechnology and to support our regulatory decisions. NAS will be an especially important partner in this effort, as we try to identify any gaps in our scientific knowledge.

To enhance consumer information and to support the marketing of agricultural products, FDA will develop guidelines for voluntary biotech food labels that are clear and truthful. Similarly, USDA will initiate efforts to help develop testing procedures and quality assurance programs designed to differentiate non-biotech commodities and to better meet the needs of the market. Both USDA and FDA will involve the public, the industry and farmers in the development of these initiatives.

There will also be an enhanced public outreach effort to increase understanding about our biotech regulatory process. And, finally, USDA will also help farmers analyze the demand for biotech products, helping them make sound planting and marketing decisions.

Some of the new initiatives are brand new; others build on things we're already doing. For example, the assessment of environmental regulations comes on top of the science reviews we've asked NAS to undertake. USDA is already working to validate GMO testing and to accredit labs that conduct the testing. Public education and outreach have already been enhanced through the establishment of this NAS Standing Committee and the Department's newly formed Advisory Committee on Agricultural Biotechnology.

I am confident that these new steps will help biotechnology maximize its awesome potential -- to feed a hungry and growing world to increase agricultural productivity ... to preserve natural resources and so on. But the plan also asks the federal government to take on new mandates and responsibilities. To fulfill them, without a doubt we'll be turning to NAS for guidance and support. We have the utmost respect for your expertise, and we look forward to working with you on this project and many others for years to come. Thank you.

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