July 14, 1999

Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman says he will ask for an independent scientific review of USDA's biotech approval process. Expert input also will be sought for pharmaceutical producing plants and genetically modified livestock,. Consumers, says Glickman, must be given an informed choice, and he implied that some form of labeling was inevitable, while acknowledging it raised trade policy questions.

In what he termed a major speech on biotechnology and agriculture, Glickman outlined five "principles" he thought should "guide us in our approach to biotechnology in the 21st century."

--An "arm's length regulatory process" in which government regulators continue to remain apart from and at a "dispassionate distance" from companies developing and promoting biotech products. Government regulators would continue to protect public health, safety and the environment.

--Consumer acceptance, which Glickman says is fundamentally based on an arm's length regulatory process." There may be a role for information labeling, "but fundamental questions to acceptance will depend on sound regulation."

--Biotechnology has to result in greater, not fewer options for farmers. "The industry has to develop products that show real, meaningful results for farmers."

--Biotechnology companies must understand and respect the role of the arm's length regulator, the farmer and the consumer.

--"We cannot let others hide behind unfounded, unwarranted scientific claims to block (worldwide) commerce in agriculture," Glickman maintains.

He said the independent scientific review of USDA's biotech approval process would be to ensure that "our scientists have the best information and tools to ensure our regulatory capabilities continue to evolve along with advances in the new technology."

USDA will propose the establishment of regional centers nationwide to evaluate biotech products over a long period of time and provide information to growers, consumers, researchers and regulators, said Glickman.

One of his biggest concerns, he said, "is what biotechnology has in store for family farmers." Consolidation, industrialization and proprietary research "can create pitfalls for farmers. It threatens to make them servants to bigger masters rather than masters of their own domains."

Farmers' ability to compete fairly with adequate choices available and without undue influence or impediments to fair competition "must be preserved (and) we must achieve a balance between fairness to farmers and corporate returns," he said.

Glickman also noted he had established a Secretary's Advisory committee on Agricultural Biotechnology of 25 individuals from government, academia, production agriculture, agribusiness, ethics, environmental and consumer groups.

The committee will hold its first meeting this fall to provide the Secretary with advice "on a broad range of issues relating to agricultural biotechnology and on maintaining a flexible policy that evolves as biotechnology evolves."