THE Provincial Board of Negros Occidental is pushing for the amendments in the Anti-GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) Ordinance as part of measures to address pressing concerns on high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
Sugar industry leaders and multi-sectoral groups urged the provincial government to strictly implement the ordinance, saying that continued importation of HFCS “will kill the industry.”
Fifth District Board Member Alain Gatuslao, chairman of committee on laws, rules and ordinances, said the first amendment approved for first reading seeks to include HFCS as a possible “watchlist item” on anti-GMO.
Gatuslao said that initially, the province wants food and beverage companies that distribute items related to HFCS to submit certifications that the corn syrup they are using does not contain any GMO.
“We will also ask the governor to increase the amount of appropriation from only P200,000 since its passage in 2007 to create a team that will really concentrate on monitoring the entire province,” he said.
It would then depend on the governor if the province will subject the certification submitted by private companies to confirmatory tests.
Sugar industry leaders may also do laboratory tests and use the ordinance to file charges against companies found to have GMOs in their products, Gatuslao added.
He admitted that the ordinance was not fully implemented because it has no implementing rules and regulation (IRR) yet.
The Save the Sugar Industry Movement (Save-SIM) Wednesday said they plan to have a dialogue with Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. regarding HFCS importation.
“We appeal to the governor that the implication that the sugar industry will collapse is more important than the technicalities he raised,” lead convenor Wennie Sancho said.
