Consumers Union of Japan has signed the statement urging Forest Stewardship Council to maintain its strong ban on genetically modified trees.
FSC prohibits FSC member companies from using genetically modified (also known as genetically engineered) trees for commercial purposes, in certified or non-certified areas. However, FSC allows associated companies to conduct research field tests of GM trees in non-certified areas, a decision that has already allowed companies to advance their GM trees development.
You can also sign the FSC petition here! (Before 5 October 2022)
The Campaign to Stop Genetically Engineered Trees notes that FSC has launched a “genetic engineering learning process” that proposes to directly overseeing selected field tests of GE trees. FSC is developing its own “governance model” of “safeguards” that it will ask companies to comply with when they run these field tests.
The effort to permanently stop GE trees is reaching a critical stage. It is essential to have a broad network of organizations, grassroots groups, alliances, and coalitions that are informed and mobilized to spread the word about the GE tree threat to their constituencies and activate them on the issue.
The mission of the Campaign to STOP Genetically Engineered Trees is to protect forests and biodiversity, and provide support to communities threatened by the dangerous release of genetically engineered trees.
The Campaign is an alliance of national and international organizations with the goal to ban the release of genetically engineered trees into the environment.