Moratorium sought on an apple

The BC Fruit Grower’s Association is asking the government for an immediate moratorium on a genetically modified (CM) apple, also known under trademark as the Arctic Apple.

Photo: Contributed - arcticapples.com

Last week they wrote to the Health Minister Rona Ambrose and Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, asking for the regulatory process to be suspended.

“Our concern is the negative publicity for apples in general caused by the controversy over this GM apple,” says Jeet Dukhia, President of the BCFGA.

“There is potential market damage caused to apple markets if this GM apple is approved – indeed, it seems the damage is occurring even while the apple is in the regulatory process and a decision on its approval is still pending. The public thinks of apples as a pure, natural, healthy and nutritional fruit. GM apples are a risk to our market image.”

According to a survey the BCFGA completed in partnership with the Quebec Apple Producers Association, 69 per cent of Canadians are not in favour of genetically modified foods and 91 per cent say that labeling should be mandatory. The survey was conducted online and used a random sample of 1,501 Canadians.

“If 76 per cent of people say the Canadian government has not provided adequate information to the public on GM foods, how can the government then approve these products for introduction to an unprepared marketplace?,” notes Dukhia.

“This places the entire apple market at risk, and we have asked that the government place an immediate, pre-emptive moratorium on the on this apple before our markets suffer.”

The Canadian Horticulture Council’s Apple Working Group, a national committee of representatives from each apple-growing province, is also in favour of a moratorium on the introduction of the Arctic Apple.