NEW DOCUMENTARY RAISES IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ON CODEX FAIRNESS AND MULTINATIONAL I

[Guest guest]

ALLIANCE FOR NATURAL HEALTH

 

Press Release - for immediate release

 

4 July 2005

 

NEW DOCUMENTARY RAISES IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ON CODEX FAIRNESS AND

MULTINATIONAL INTERESTS

 

July 4. 2005 – London – Delegates from 100 countries, together with

representatives from an additional 30 non-governmental organisations

begin six days of meetings at the Food and Agriculture Organization

(FAO) headquarters in Rome today, under the auspices of the Codex

Alimentarius Commission (Codex).

 

After some 10 years of negotiation, the delegates will be deciding

whether to finalise the controversial guideline on vitamin and mineral

food supplements that has been criticised by detractors as being based

on flawed science and defective procedures.

 

A new documentary released today, narrated by Oscar and BAFTA winning

British actress, Dame Judi Dench, known worldwide for her role as " M "

in recent James Bond movies, raises serious questions about the basic

fairness and potential impact of Codex — and whether multinational

corporations are angling for ultimate control of people's health the

world over.

 

In concert with the most powerful governments in the world, including

those of Europe and America, special interests appear keen to see the

guideline finalized. Once ratified, the guideline is likely to become

the global standard by which maximum permitted levels for vitamin and

mineral food supplements are derived. Health activists fear that the

levels will be set so low that doses of many vital nutrients that

provide health benefits would be outlawed.

 

We Become Silent, produced by International award-winning filmmaker,

Kevin P. Miller, was released this week in an attempt to raise public

awareness to the Codex Alimentarius Commission prior to the meeting in

Rome from 4 July to 9 July. The documentary is set to be viewed by 25

million homes on U.S. cable TV alone. Thousands of people from 43

countries have already viewed the documentary over the Internet.

 

" We are urging as many people from all over the world, including the

Codex delegates themselves, to watch the movie and think very

seriously about what they will be voting for, " stated Kevin Miller.

" Most believe that the Codex guidelines are simply not ready for

ratification. The real cost of depriving people of valuable nutrients

has not been considered — and there is no good reason why these

guidelines should be approved without more public debate and input of

further scientific information. This is, after all, an important human

rights issue, one which will adversely impact tens of millions of

people, " he added.

 

We Become Silent can be seen at Alliance for Natural Health's website,

www.alliance-natural-health.org — or at www.WellTV.com

 

According to Dr Robert Verkerk, executive director of the Alliance for

Natural Health, saying `no' to finalisation of the guideline has to be

the only way forward. " It appears that the Codex guidelines for food

supplements include faulty procedures that contradict Codex's own

rules, as pointed out by the US-based National Health Federation,

itself a Codex participant. Verkerk added, " we have also demonstrated

that the risk assessment system being considered by Codex is

scientifically flawed and we argue that the guideline should not be

finalised until the independent risk assessment scientists at the

Netherlands-based HAN Foundation publish their findings regarding

scientifically valid risk assessment methods due in around 9 months " .

 

Alliance for Natural Health supporters, including such noted

celebrities as Dame Judi and Bianca Jagger, are very hopeful that

countries like India, South Africa, Ghana, Tanzania and others, which

have expressed serious reservations over the Codex guidelines, will be

able to stimulate a consensus that will delay finalization of the

guidelines in Rome next week.

 

END.

 

TO VIEW DOCUMENTARY, CLICK ON BANNER ON TOP OF ANH HOMEPAGE

http://alliance-natural-health.org/

 

OR WELLTV WEBSITE

http://welltv.com/

 

For enquiries and further information contact:

 

ALLIANCE FOR NATURAL HEALTH

 

Dr Robert Verkerk

Executive Director

Alliance for Natural Health

Tel: +44 (0)1252 371 275

Fax: +44 (0)845 280 4910

E-mail: info

www.alliance-natural-health.org

 

PR CONSULTANTS TO THE ALLIANCE FOR NATURAL HEALTH

 

USA and worldwide (except UK)

 

Rudi C. Loehwing

CEO

Broadcasters Network International, Ltd

U.S. Tel: 011 818 294 2885

U.K. Mobile: +44 (0) 7913 188756

Fax: +44 (0) 1342 323435

E-mail: rudil

 

UK

 

Adrian Shaw – Partner

IKON Associates

Tel: 01483 535102

Mobile: 0797 9900733

Email: adrian

 

Paul Donkersley – Partner

Tel: 020 8870 0316

Mobile: 07967 646046

Email: paul

 

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