In a letter to the Registrar of Genetically Modified Organisms, the South African Council of Churches and 38 other civil society organisations today opposed the granting of a commodity clearance permit that would allow the US chemical firm Monsanto to import genetically modified (GM) wheat into South Africa.

Noting the lack of conclusive studies of the impact of GM crops on human and environmental health, the letter said: "We do not believe South Africa should be the first country to take the risk to allow GM wheat (seeds or seeds for milling) if the social, environmental and economic impact is of such concern to the rest of the world." It raised concerns that South Africa could be used as a dumping ground for GM crops and a gateway for their distribution to other parts of the continent.

The signatories observed that there had been insufficient public discussion in South Africa of the potentially harmful effects of genetically modified organisms. Objecting to the lack of public hearings and the exclusion of civil society voices from the Council on Genetically Modified Organisms, the organisations called on government to extend the deadline for submissions until 30 May 2004. They also called for an urgent national summit on GM organisms to bring together key domestic stakeholders and resource people from countries such as Zambia, India and Canada to assess the long-term impact of GM organisms on seed stock, land fertility, biodiversity, food security and health.

Pending more thorough study and debate, the organisations called on the South African government to declare a moratorium on the import and growing of GM wheat. "The government should, at the very least, follow the precautionary principle decided upon at the WSSD and not fast track a technology that is still inadequately tested," they warned. The letter also urges government to launch a transparent review the Genetically Modified Organisms Act of 1997 to ensure that it is consistent with strict biosafety standards.

The letter was signed by representatives of the following organisations: South African Council of Churches, Congress of South African Trade Unions - Western Cape, Food and Allied Workers Union, South African National NGO Coalition, Justice and Peace Department - Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference, Environmental Justice Network Forum, National Land Committee, Ecumenical Service for Socio-Economic Transformation, Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa, SAFEAGE, Landless People's Movement, Women on Farms Project, Dominican Order - Catholic Church, South African New Economics, African Centre for Biosafety, Development Education and Leadership Teams in Action - Women's Programme, You and Your Money, Etafeni Day Care Centre Trust, Safe Food Coalition, Zululand Environmental Alliance, CPSA Environmental Network, LeaRN Network, Programme for Land and Agrarian Studies - UWC, Development Action Group, Land Access Movement of South Africa, Nkuzi Development Association, The Rural Action Committee, Association for Community and Rural Advancement, Co-operative for Research and Education, Steinkopf Advice Centre, Earthlife Africa - Western Cape, African Health and Development Organisation, GroundWork, The Grail - Cape Town, AIDS Response, Umthathi Training Project, Young Women's Christian Association, Project Gateway, Enchantrix Organic Products.

For more information, contact: Dr. Molefe Tsele, General Secretary, (082) 458 2037