The NFU, along with other Canadian community-based organizations, has been involved since the beginning of the fight to keep rBGH out of Canadian milk. There have been too many activities to list, so we will restrict our summary to the past seven or so months.

September 1998

• NFU posts secret GAPS report on its website. This report, written by Health Canada scientists and leaked to the National Farmers Union and other groups, pointed out the gaps in the research into the human health safety of Monsanto's bovine growth hormone.

October 21, 1998

• NFU News Release encourages media to attend Senate Hearings on rBGH.

October 29, 1998

• NFU appears before Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture to outline the risks of recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone, points out consensus among farmers and consumers, and urges the government to continue the ban.
  
• NFU circulates News Release on above.

November 1998

• PEI Coordinator Randall Affleck attends Codex Alimentarius meetings in Spain as the National Farmers Union's representative of Via Campesina. Representatives from farmers' and farm workers' organizations around the world were also present.
  
• The Via Campesina is the farmer's equivalent of the G-7. The movement represents the determination of farmers to take their rightful place in negotiations that profoundly influence their livelihoods and their communities.

December 15, 1998

• NFU joins with the Sierra Club and the Council of Canadians to highlight efforts of U.S. groups to revoke approval of rBGH in that country.

December 1998/January 1999

• In an article for the CCPA Monitor, NFU Ontario Office Manager Richard Lloyd points out the failure of Health Canada to thoroughly evaluate the human health risks of bovine growth hormone.

January 15, 1999

• "Ban on bovine growth hormone a victory for farmers" NFU News Release celebrates interim victory in keeping Canadian milk pure and safe. Thanks to thousands of Canadians (farmers and consumers) who joined together to achieve this significant victory!

February 17, 1999

• NFU Region 3 Coordinator Peter Dowling urges Senator Gustafson to stand firmly behind the Canadian ban on rBGH; to challenge the claims of the human health panel on conflict-of-interest grounds to scrap the Health Protection Branch Transition Plan; and to end a gag order on six Bureau of Veterinary Drugs scientists.

March 5, 1999

• The NFU sent a letter to the European Parliament regarding manipulation of Codex Alimentarius (responsible for setting international food safety standards) by transnational corporate interests.

April 16, 1999

• NFU Region 3 Coordinator Peter Dowling calls on Minister Rock to honestly represent the wishes of Canadians at the upcoming inter-national talks on food standards at the Codex Alimentarius.
  
• Dowling calls on Rock to uphold the Precautionary Principle.

May 6, 1999

• NFU News Release calls for "public inquiry into Health Canada's actions on growth hormone.

May 7, 1999

• A "Public Forum on Food Safety" was organized in Ontario by NFU staff Richard Lloyd. Richard also participated in panels.

May 10 , 1999

• NFU News Release asserts that "Biotech companies must pay for genetic pollution."

May 20, 1999

• NFU was an intervenor in the case of scientists from Health Canada's Bureau of Veterinary Drugs. The scientists were taking court action to have the gag order imposed by their bosses removed.

In addition, NFU officials and members have spoken at many public forums across the country. We have circulated action alerts, distributed vast amounts of information on genetic engineering, rBGH and food safety.

In the future, the NFU will continue to promote safe food production and safe, healthy food in the following ways:

• Continue our work on Health Canada, Codex Alimentarius and rBGH
• Follow a possible chapter 11 case by Monsanto for hundreds of millions in damages resulting from Canada's ban on rBGH
• Work with Via Campesina on WTO negotiations and their effects on food trade, standards and safety, as well as on the continuing Codex negotiations
• Follow and report on the continuing controversy around Terminator technology
• Explore genetic engineering and the future of organic farming.

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