"If GM foods are safe, as the industry claims, then why the stubborn opposition to labeling?"

[Baobab]

19. Why the attack on labeling? Trade rules-Links to info and my thoughts on the main issues

There are some excellent descriptions of the problem at both IATP.org - and CIEL.org - Here are some examples of the many pubs they have on the issue..


http://www.ciel.org/Publications/CODEXSubstantialEquivalenceandWTO.pdfCodex, Substantial Equivalence and WTO Threats to National GMO Labeling Schemes
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An Activist's Handbook On Genetically Modified Organisms and the WTO


How New Free Trade Agreements Would Undermine Local Procurement

http://www.iatp.org/blog/201308/trade-rules-versus-sustainabilityTrade rules versus sustainability
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http://www.iatp.org/blog/201512/senators%E2%80%94voluntary-is-not-coolSenators—Voluntary is not COOL!
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TPP Fine Print: Biotech Seed Companies Win Again


The attack is against people deciding themselves, using their own information, to decide what to buy, or not buy,and in no small part also against whats called "local sourcing" - and local laws that encouraged, and now, having almost won that - even laws that simply allow it. Via procurement rules that will force procurement through bidding systems only allowed to use 'objective criteria' determined by industry dominated panels-

Corporate stakeholders are being given the opportunity to permanently shift global policy so they can most effectively maximize the value in the supply chains by procuring goods and services at the lowest possible prices and selling them for the highest possible prices, without governmental interference.

Customs, like requiring accurate labeling, that deviate from some lowest common denominator international standard, are under attack. basically, this effects everything- not just labeling.

They would like to control the purchasing habits of everybody by making it more and more difficult to bypass the products of globalization by selecting products based on your beliefs - which they might not agree with. Since they have the ears of governments and you don't their wishes are being granted on a massive scale, in ways that lock them in in wys even local governments are powerless ti influence. A similar attack is being mounted against environmental laws of all kinds at the supranational trade deal level.

They are the deciders of what "objective standards" can be used, to protect heir profits and they want to be the ones to decide whats healthy for you.

This applies to both goods and services. Everything in both areas is changing due to international trade agreements, and will not be recognizable in a few years.

In the exact same way, regulations for services procurement at all levels of government and quasi government are being changed in ways that will render preferential local sourcing inmpossible unless somebody is in an officially recognized least eveloped country or developing country, A lot of regulations which we have grown used to may not be allowed, generally all regulations must not have the effect of discriminating against foreign providers of goods or services, all domestic regulations must conform to new "disciplines on domestic regulations", for example, a legal standard of "fair and equitable treatment". Regulations must be "no more burdensome than necessary to ensure the quality of the service".


This is a real problem because the US public is largely unaware of this change and the reasons for it and the media is not being helpful - they are playing along.