The Arab Group for the Protection of Nature (APN) lectures about “Genetically Modified Organisms, Risks and Impacts” in cooperation with the Ministry of Health – Primary Medical Care Department

On June 23^rd 2005, The Arab Group for the Protection of Nature in cooperation with the Jordanian Ministry of Health- Primary Medical Care Department- held a lecture about the Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). The aim of this lecture was to promote the understanding between the medical and scientific circles in Jordan about Genetically Modified Organisms, their risks and impacts. This comes as a primary step after APN held its international seminar “GMOs, Risks and Impacts” on May 7^th-8^th 2005 in Amman, Jordan.

The lecture started with a welcoming note by Dr. Adel Belbeisi, the head of the Primary Medical Care Department and then Dr. Sana Saqf Al-Hait presented all lecturers. Ms. Razan Zuyater, the chairman of APN, followed by presenting APN, its activities and projects that aim to preserve nature, land and agriculture in Jordan, Palestine and the Arab countries.

Ms. Zuyater says: “If no evidence exists about the risks and dangers of eating GM foods, it does not mean that these foods should be consumed without global supervision, since humans do not need genetic modification. Also, the nutrition supervisory departments of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture should start the required inspections on all imported foods in order to be aware if these products contain GMOs or not”.

APN’s member Dr. Assem Al-Shehabi, a professor at Jordan University Faculty of Medicine, explained the scientific side of genetics engineering, and how this technology is still at its beginnings where one should know the side affects of consuming the products of this technology, and whether it will actually serve man kind with out spreading diseases or having any side affects.

Next, Dr. Shirly Al-Jabi talked about the consequences of humans consuming GMOs. Dr. Al-Jabi stressed the fact that the sole purpose of the producing companies of GMOs is to increase profit. She also explained that one should know the exact contents of any product being used, meaning labels should show if GMOs exist in the product. Also she stressed the fact that nations should stop the spread of GM foods by boycotting them because humans do not need GM foods and the consumers’ choice should be towards organic foods.

At the end of the lecture many attendants asked questions regarding GMOs since some were introduced to the topic for the first time while others gained new depth on the topic.

This lecture lead the scientific circles in Jordan to research the technology of GMOs, where the debate is still growing among the international scientific circles and the Civil Societies Groups on GMOs.