MILLIONS of genetically modified (GM) ”warrior” Aedes mosquitoes will soon be released into the fishing village of Pulau Ketam off Selangor as part of international field trials to fight the dengue scourge. The GM male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which carry killer genes, will be released into the wild to eliminate the Aedes mosquito population which spreads dengue fever. The field trials will be undertaken by the Health Ministry’s Institute of Medical Research (IMR) in collaboration with British-based Oxitec Ltd, an insect bio-tech company part-owned by the University of Oxford.

The IAASTD report calls on governments and agencies to redirect investment, funding, research and policy focus towards the needs of small farmers. More stress must be given to protecting natural resources and agro-ecological practices, and tapping farmers’ traditional knowledge. Its main policy message is that sustainable agriculture, based on biodiversity, and including agro-ecology and organic farming, is beneficial to poor farmers, and needs to be supported by policy.

An agency will be formed to control the distribution of genetically-modified (GM) foods and enforce the mandatory labelling of such products sold in the market. Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the labelling requirement, which was stated in the Biosafety Bill 2006, will allow consumers to choose whether they want to consume or reject GM foodstuff. ”The regulations will allow people to be aware of the presence of GM foods as it will be stated on the labels pasted on the packaging,” he told reporters

MANDATORY labelling of food ingredients, especially genetically modified food, will be made compulsory once the Biosafety Bill 2006 is approved. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid said labelling was important as Malaysians were religiously sensitive about food. He said the law would protect the people by ensuring that the Government was aware of the type of food being imported into the country, adding that labelling would also help to boost the image of the country as a halal hub.

THE Consumers’ Association of Penang and Sahabat Alam Malaysia welcome the announcement by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid that the labelling of products containing genetically modified (GM) organisms will remain mandatory under the new Biosafety Bill, which is expected to be passed in parliament soon. We laud the assurance by the minister that the government will not compromise on the interests of Malaysia and its people. [...] In the light of the above, we urge the government to expedite the Biosafety Bill and not give in to pressure from the US biotechnology companies. The health and environmental safety of Malaysians should prevail over the profits of these biotechnology companies.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday expressed his concern over the level of preparedness in Asia in terms of bio-safety and bio-security in connection with biotechnology development. [...] He said bio-safety encompassed safe practices in the handling of biological agents, managing the risk of food chain contamination and the promotion of safety standards in research work. ”By its nature, work in bio-safety is precautionary and preventive.”

It is learnt that US bio-tech companies have pressured Malaysia to drop Section 61 of the Bill, on making labelling of GM products mandatory. Clause 61 is one of the 58 contentious points that have stalled the US-Malaysia FTA talks.

Malaysia is expected to have a legal framework on biosafety soon to ensure that only approved genetically modified (GM) products enter the market place. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Azmi Khalid said Monday the Cabinet had decided that compulsory labelling of GM products would be enforced after the proposed Biosafety Bill, to be tabled at the current parliamentary session, was passed and gazetted by end of this year.

The agriculture sector is the biggest beneficiary of biotechnology advancement efforts in Malaysia, according to Plantation Industries and Commodities parlimentary secretary Datuk Dr Vijayaratnam S.Seevaratnam. [...] By 2020, the biotechnology sector will create 28,000 new jobs and contribute to about 5% of Malaysia"s gross domestic product.

The papaya industry can be fully revived with the introduction of a new resistant gene to fight the papaya ringspot virus (PRSV), a disease which ravaged papaya-growing areas in Johor in 1991. »The virus completely wiped out the industry in Johor but the new gene has proven to be able to combat the disease,« said Dr Vilasini Pillai (picture), the head researcher for the PRSV-resistant eksotika papay