GE papaya in Florida

Relating to whether the public is ready for genetically modified fruits and veggies, here is a dissenting comment about the University of Florida's petition for non-regulated status of GE papaya. From Matt Vargas on the federal docket:

USDA APHIS’ Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in its Environmental Assessment (EA) of GE papaya is dubious. The University of Florida’s petition for non-regulated status of GE papaya must not be approved without comprehensive evaluation of the environmental risks associated with commercial/public release of GE papaya line X17-2. The proper course of action is for USDA APHIS, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)) to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement.

Later, Vargas argues against the popular perception that GE papayas have saved the Hawaiian industry:

Yet the ‘success’ of the GE papaya is largely a fiction dreamed up and promoted by its inventors and by a few large Hawaiian Papaya businesses that have trapped themselves in a cycle of genetic engineering use. If they do not succeed in convincing Asian countries to plant and eat the GE papaya, then the Hawaiian industry will likely continue to spiral downward - a collapse being caused by its own self-inflicted GE experiment. This is due to almost universal consumer and market rejection, with a clear preference for non-GE and organic papaya. There is also, sensibly, no regulatory approval for GE papaya import to key markets, e.g. Japan & the 25 countries of the EU.