POSITION PAPER ON ISSUES CONFRONTING THE WORLD TRADING SYSTEM

July 6, 2001
Consumers Union of Japan
Chairperson; Yoko Tomiyama

We, Consumers Union of Japan, propose the following goals in relation to the issues confronting the world trading system.

1. Establish a system by which environmental protection and safety of life would take priority over the principle of trade liberalilzation

2. Respect the right of every country to maintain food self-sufficiency, to prohibit the exclusive ownership of seeds (patents on life), and to protect self-sufficient agriculture to achieve sustainable trade

3. Serious consideration of demerits of liberalization, such as depletion of natural resources, increased industrial waste and the impact on the division between the North and the South

4. Respect for cultural, bio-, economic and social diversity

5. Suspend all currently approved and new GMOs (GM Rice, foods, animal feeds etc.）food additives; and ban international production and circulation of same

6. Respect for national sovereignty for food security which will secure equitable and sustainable access to health-enhancing food

7. Build safety evaluation system, through adoption of risk analysis, for GMOs based on the precautionary principle

Contact : Consumers Union of Japan,
Vice Chairperson; Yasuaki Yamaura
E-mail Address; nishoren@jca.apc.org