[pbs] pbs Digest, Vol 56, Issue 14
Adam Fikso
adam14113 at ameritech.net
Wed Sep 12 14:58:44 EDT 2007
Considering the importance of the phytosanitary issue , and the likelihood
of it continuing--why don't we start considering phytosanitary issues and
delays as being "on-topic"?. Apparently there is a new set of standards
being considered for international uniformity which derives its concerns not
only from terrorist concerns, but from anxiety and concern about
genetically engineered seeds and plants, which might be used as vehicles for
terrorist goals. being issued by the Secretariat of the International Plant
Proection Convention , Food and Agriculture Organizationn of the U.N..
Jacques Diouf, Director-General.
For example, there is current research on transgenic corn which would
carry a gene to protect against E.coli just as a result of eating it, and
another line of research which would protect against HIV infection. (Chicago
Tribune Magazine Section, September 9, 2007) . Most of you are probably
already aware of the transgenic corn pollen which destroyed thousands of
Monarch Butterflies.
Given this, what is to keep a bio-terrorist from using similar methods to
infect or destroy a population of people? Without answering the questions
implied here, the issue of how one guards against this bio-terrorist
eventuality by developing and writing regulations for the inspection and
transport of seed between countries becomes an enormous task. Relevant
questions for governments are: What kind of inspection is even possible?
What kinds of quarantines are facing us in the future?
I think that much of the present concern we're seeing is motivated in part
by some of the above issues. So, growing decorative plants from seed from
other places may become much more restrictive in the near future, and
perhaps for a long time.
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Subject: pbs Digest, Vol 56, Issue 14
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