Save our Seeds

Genetically modified rice not approved for human consumption has been grown and sold in central China for the past two years, Greenpeace said Wednesday. Greenpeace said its findings were based on lab tests of samples of rice collected from seed companies, farmers and rice millers in Hubei province. Interviews with seed providers and farmers also showed that the rice had been in circulation for at least two years, the group said in a statement.</p><p><a href="http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/30375/story.htm">Reuters</a></p><p><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1459009,00.html">The Guardian: Unlicensed GM rice may be in UK food chain</a></p><p><a href="http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/04/17/news/rice.html">Int. Herald Tribune, 17th April: Genetically suspect rice in China</a>

US imports of maize gluten feed will have to be proven not to contain Syngentas illegal GM maize bt10, a EU spokesperson confirmed after a vote of the Standing Committee on the foodchain. This committee of national food safety authorities concluded also there was no health threat associated with the maize.A US spokesman called such measures unjustified.</p><p><a href="http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/04/12/business/seed.html">The International Herald Tribune: EU reassures on modified corn</a></p><p><a href="http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/30339/story.htm">Reuters: EU Eyes Certification of US GMO Feed</a></p><p><a href="http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/30365/story.htm">Reuters: EU May Adopt Law on GMO Feed Imports This Week</a>

Consumer Commissioner Markos Kyprianou demands information and a test kit on illegal GM maize bt10 from Syngenta CEO Pragnell. Else a temporary ban on US imports of maize had to be considered after an emergency meeting of national competent authorities on Tuesday. His spokesman said the EU`s head office had no powers to fine Syngenta, but said national governments in Europe could do so.</p><p><a href="http://news.ft.com/cms/s/cacd33b2-aaab-11d9-98d7-00000e2511c8.html">Financial Times: Concern over US modified corn imports</a></p><p><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D89DCH700.htm?campaign_id=apn_home_down">AP /Business Week: EU ponders suspending corn gluten imports</a></p><p><a href="http://eu.greenpeace.org/downloads/gmo/Bt10050412.pdf">Greenpeace calls for import ban on US food crops</a>

Syngenta agreed happily to a settlement with the United States Department of Agriculture to pay a 375.000$ fine and a requirement that Syngenta sponsor a compliance training conference. Wall Street reacted positively to its shares. Syngenta says it believes that the problem began with an inadvertent switching of the two types of corn seed by its researchers in the United States in the mid-1990`s when some Bt 10 seeds were probably mislabeled as Bt 11. The US Environment Agency, investigating the case, could impose additional fines.An EU official was quoted as saying, "The Commission is reflecting about possible action such as a temporary suspension of imports of corn gluten feed." and: "We have again emphasised to Syngenta we must have a detection method ... before next Tuesday."<a href="http://www.mysan.de/article74255.html">PR Newswire</a></p><p><a href="http://www.syngenta.com/en/media/article.aspx?pr=040805&Lang=en">Syngenta : Syngenta agrees settlement with USDA on unintended Bt10 corn</a></p><p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/09/business/worldbusiness/09syngenta.html?">NYT: U.S. Fines Swiss Company Over Sale of Altered Seed</a>

The European Patents Office decided not to revoke the patent on Monsanto`s Roundup Ready soy. Environment lobbyist Greenpeace, Swiss biotech group Syngenta and other groups had complained to the European Patent Office that Monsanto had no right to its previously awarded patent on its Roundup Ready genetically modified seeds for soybeans, maize and other crops.</p><p><a href="http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=8111861">Reuters: European agency rules Monsanto has GMO seed patent</a></p><p><a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/international_en/press/release?item_id=822957&campaign_id=3942">Greenpeace Press Release</a></p><p><a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/press/release?item_id=821176&campaign_id">Greenpeace and Farmers join forces to protect our food from Biotech Industry buy-out</a>

The European Commission announced it has no means to identify Syngentas unapproved GM maize "bt10" as no test had been provided so far by the company. However, it refuses to stop US maize imports until proven not to contain bt10: "The commission believes that would be a disproportionate measure at this point". Further appeals were made to Syngenta and the US. Meanwhile Genetic ID, an international private testing company offers a PCR-test for bt10.</p><p><a href="http://www.euobserver.com/?sid=9&aid=18785">EU Observer: Commission unable to stop unauthorised GMO</a></p><p><a href="http://www.finfacts.com/irelandbusinessnews/publish/article_10001180.shtml">Finfacts: EU in contact with US and biotech firm Syngenta on GM maize</a></p><p><a href="http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/ap/2005/04/04/ap1922488.html">Forbes: EU Confident in Biotech Safeguards</a></p><p><a href="http://www.genetic-id.com/pr/BT10_Test.pdf">Genetic ID: Responds to industry need for bt10 testing</a>

An international alliance of NGO`s has launched a campaign to urge the World Health Organization to reject a proposal that would permit the genetic engineering of smallpox and to instead ensure that all remaining stocks of the virus are destroyed within two years. Debate on the proposal will take place at the World Health Assembly (WHA), which meets in Geneva, Switzerland beginning on May 16th.</p><p><a href="http://www.smallpoxbiosafety.org/who/letter.php?language=english">Campaign Homepage</a></p><p><a href="http://www.smallpoxbiosafety.org/who/prenglish.html">Campaign Press Release</a>

US and Sygenta officials are trying to prevent Korea, which imported 3,7 mio tons of maize from the US last year, from testing for the illegal GM variety "Bt10" from Syngenta.</p><p><a href="http://www.soyatech.com/bluebook/news/viewarticle.ldml?a=20050331-3">Soyatech:US officials fret over South Korea`s response to GM corn mix-up</a>

Several years ago engineered genes were found in native corn of indigenous Mexican peoples, despite the ban on planting genetically engineered corn in Mexico. Now Mexican President Vicente Fox signed the "Law of Biosecurity for Genetically Modified Organisms".</p><p><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/technology/chi-0504030255apr03,0,5589819.story?coll=chi-techtopheds-hed">Chicago Tribune: Good enough for U.S., good enough for Mexico-</a></p><p><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/technology/chi-0504030257apr03,0,6376253.story?coll=chi-techtopheds-hed">Chicago Tribune: Don't mess with maize - and respect neighbor</a></p><p><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/technology/chi-0504030256apr03,0,5983036.story?coll=chi-techtopheds-hed">Chicago Tribune: Mexico and the corn law - and degrees of caution</a>

The European Commission said it "deplores" the import of an unauthorised genetically modified strain of maize from the US, of which it had only been notified on March 22nd by Sngenta and the US Embassy. Commissioner Dimas asked Member States to carry out appropriate control measures to stop Bt10 entering their territory and sent a letter to the US authorities to identify the lapse in control. "Too little too late", Friends of the Earth commented.</p><p><a href="http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L0130094.htm">Reuters: EU angry over imports of unauthorised GMO maize</a></p><p><a href="http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/382&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en">EU Commission: Commission seeks clarification on Bt10 from US authorities and Syngenta</a></p><p><a href="http://www.foeeurope.org/press/2005/AB_1_April_Syngenta.htm">FOE: GMO crop scandal - too little, too late</a>