Our report sounding the alarm that Obama and Harper’s secretive border deal, due to be signed next week, would be used to fast track GMO acceptance has been confirmed. The details have been kept under wraps, but recent reports revealed that the ‘Beyond Borders’ security and law enforcement deal would also seek to ‘harmonize’ U.S. and Canadian regulatory standards for food, auto and other trade sectors.
The Globe and Mail confirms that the North American Union security perimeter initiative, sold to the public as new security measures at the border, has a second major component– the Canada-U.S. Regulatory Co-operation Council.
Mr. Harper… said there are two issues on the joint security and economic agenda of the two countries. One, he said, is the border and perimeter initiative, and the other is Canada-U.S. Regulatory Co-operation Council.
“We are seeking ways of ensuring security in North America while at the same time making sure that we continue strong Canadian access to the American market,” Mr. Harper told reporters.
This will encompass far more than just the terms under which food can cross the border– it will put approval for biotechnology on a fast track in both countries and impose FDA and other regulations on both countries.
The agenda of the Canada-U.S. Regulatory Co-operation Council was quietly announced in February 2011, putting explicit focus on the implementation of theU.S. Food Safety Modernization Act requirements under the larger Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness agenda. That nightmarish legislation was heavily criticized for new authority it grants the U.S. government over the right to grow, trade and transport foods of any kind.
In other words, it is poised to boost the reach of Big Agra and biotech firms at the expense of small farmers and ordinary people.
Now, under the new Obama-Harper deal, Canada, too, would accept this tyranny over food.
Specifically, the Canada-U.S. Regulatory Cooperative Council (under “free” trade) would establish a joint review process for pre-market GMO approval, establish a policy for the acceptance and export of LLPs (Low-Level Presence contamination of genetically modified foods bans in country of export) and recommends eliminating mandatory country of origin labeling, and more.
From the report:
Biotechnology
Establish a joint review process or a Mutual Recognition Agreement for biotechnology product approvals to facilitate synchronized approvals.
Establish a common policy for dealing with low level presence (LLP) of unapproved biotechnology products (e.g., harmonized risk assessments and acceptance of LLP already commercially available in the other country).
A 2004 symposium on Canada-U.S. Regulatory Co-operation even recommends outright acceptance of U.S. food standards: The Health Products and Food Branch is now considering a risk-based approach to regulatory co-operation, which might entail accepting or referencing decisions made by the US Food and Drug Administration and other regulators for low-risk products.
With U.S. regulatory agencies filled with revolving door stooges like FDA Deputy Commissioner for Foods Michael R. Taylor, formerly a Vice President at Monsanto and long a go-between for biotech and government regulations, there is little doubt what direction such a “harmonization” of food regulations, including FDA recommendations, would mean under the ‘Beyond Borders’ deal.
President Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper are scheduled to meet one-on-one next Wednesday to discuss and sign the deal… then its details will finally be revealed to the world.
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Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness: Regulatory Cooperation – A Report on the Consultations on Regulatory Cooperation Between Canada and the United States
Read PDF here or web version here. Excerpt from p. 25
Appendix 2: Specific Proposals by Sector
Agriculture and Food
Food Safety Systems
Develop common approaches to food safety requirements and policies, aligning new regulations and guidance—specifically, implementation of the U.S. Food Safety Modernization Act requirements.
Mutually recognize food safety systems.
Improve the effectiveness of meat-safety-system equivalency agreements (i.e., eliminate or minimize re-inspections of product and microbial testing at the border).
Accept industry-led standards and programs that are based on international standards (e.g., the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point, or HACCP).
Harmonize approvals for food-safety-enhancing products and technology used in processing (e.g., packaging materials, anti-microbial interventions, testing methodologies and processes, sanitation, and maintenance chemicals and equipment).
Biotechnology
Establish a joint review process or a Mutual Recognition Agreement for biotechnology product approvals to facilitate synchronized approvals.
Establish a common policy for dealing with low level presence (LLP) of unapproved biotechnology products (e.g., harmonized risk assessments and acceptance of LLP already commercially available in the other country).
Agricultural Inputs
Building on significant collaboration to date, align pre-market approval processes and data requirements for crop protection products (i.e., pesticides, seed treatments) to facilitate joint reviews and assessments and improve re-evaluation and re-registration processes.
Resolve discrepancies in maximum residue limits for crop protection products.
Modify the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notice-of-arrival process to remove the advance notification requirement for products that are already EPA-registered.
Harmonize the approval process for veterinary drugs, including the establishment of maximum residue limits.
Labelling, Packaging and Product Content
Align nutritional labelling formats and content (e.g., nutrient definitions, required values, daily recommended intakes).
Harmonize approaches to allowed health claims.
Align standards for discretionary fortification of foods.
Develop uniform labelling requirements (e.g., quality specifications, method of production claims, glycemic index labelling).
Adopt a common approach to the nomenclature of meat cuts.
Eliminate or amend U.S. mandatory country-of-origin labelling requirements.
Align container size requirements (infant food, bottled and canned goods).
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RELATED: Secret U.S.-Canada Border Deal Hides GMO Takeover
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