Save our Seeds

Russian scientists have warned about the dangers of genetically modified products in a letter to President Putin. Importing genetically modified foods is jeopardizing both Russia`s health and agriculture, they claim.</p><p><a href="http://state.rin.ru/cgi-bin/news_e.pl?id=34415">Stae and Power, Russia</a>

A report, written by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) of the North American Free Trade Agreement (US, Canada and Mexico) recommends that all genetically engineered (GE) maize imports be labelled as such and that all US maize entering Mexico should be milled upon entry, to prevent living seeds from being planted intentionally or accidentally. The report, which has been withheld due to US pressure since August, was leaked by Greenpeace.</p><p><a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/international_en/news/details?item_id=617830">Greenpeace PR with background-links</a></p><p><a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/international_en/multimedia/download/1/618472/0/final_cec.pdf">Commission for Environmental Cooperation of North America, report: Maize and biodiversity: effects of transgenic maize in Mexico</a></p><p><a href="http://www.saveourseeds.org/news/international/2004_10_09_archiv.html#109769997918419664">Background</a>

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed an executive order that will allow the provisional planting of GM soybeans for the 2004/05 crop year.</p><p><a href="http://www.aebrazil.com/highlights/2004/out/15/8.htm">Agencia Estado Brasil</a></p><p><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3748230.stm">BBC News</a></p><p><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/biotech/2004-10-16-brazil-modified-soy_x.htm">USA Today</a>

In a message for Saturday`s World Food Day, Pope John Paul II stressed the need for biodiversity, suggesting reservations about the production of genetically modified foods.</p><p><a href="http://www.cathnews.com/news/410/81.php">Pope hints at thumbs-down for GM food</a>

A series of workshops on GM related issues will be held in London during this falls European Social Forum.</p><p><a href="http://www.genewatch.org/esf.htm">GeneWatch UK - Genetics at the European Social Forum</a>

Denmark and Italy will propose to set up aEuropean task force on research requirementsconcerning coexistence of GM and non-GM crops at the next Council of EU Agricultural ministers on October 18th. They also stress the need for setting limit values forlabelling GMOs in seed and suggest not to include 17 geneticallmodified types of maize in the common catalogue of varieties.</p><p><a href="http://ue.eu.int/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/agricult/82235.pdf">EU Council background note to the press: Agricultural Council, Luxembourg 18 October 2004</a></p><p><a href="http://www.gulfnews.com/Articles/print2.asp?ArticleID=135757">Reuters: Denmark, Italy seek task force on GM crops</a>

The Italian government is split between Ag minister Alemanno and prime minister Berlusconi whether to prohibit the cultivation of GM maize recently inscribed in the EUs common seed catalogue. A broad coalition of regional governments, agricultural organisations and NGOs "Libri dal GMO" - "GMO free" supports Alemanno`s decree.</p><p><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/italy/story/0,12576,1325178,00.html">Guardian: GM crops row splits Italian government</a></p><p><a href="http://dbs.cordis.lu/cgi-bin/srchidadb?CALLER=NHP_EN_NEWS&ACTION=D&SESSION=&RCN=EN_RCN_ID:22751">Cordis: Italian government torn over GMOs</a></p><p><a href="http://www.greenplanet.net/Articolo5324.html">Greenplanet.net: Anche confindustria con alemanno sugli ogm</a>

The world association of consumer organisations, Consumers International, has launched a campaign for a world-wide moratorium on GMOs in food.</p><p><a href="http://www.consumersinternational.org/news/display.asp?regionid=135&tag=A&id=427&type=news&cat=5&langid=1">Consumers International</a></p><p><a href="http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/news-NG.asp?n=55288-consumer-push-global">Food Navigator</a>

The future Agricultural Commissioner, a former agriculture minister in Denmark, told membersof the European Parliament that GMO seed thresholds should be set at thelowest possible level."On GMOs, I have my own personal views," she said.</p><p><a href="http://www.agbios.com/main.php?action=ShowNewsItem&id=5921">AGBIOS: EU`s Fischer Boel wants lowest GMO level in seeds</a>

The final report of the North American Free Trade Associations Environmental branch on the impacts of GM contamination of Mexicos unique diversity of maize varieties was due in June 2004. It is still not published. Probably because the scientists recommendations and concerns do not please US maize exporters.</p><p><a href="http://www.messenger-inquirer.com/features/agriculture/7654446.htm">Chicago Tribune: Report raises concern about Mexico-bound biotech corn</a></p><p><a href="http://www.cec.org/maize/index.cfm?varlan=english">Nafta`s Commission on Environmental Cooperation homepage: Maize and Biodiversity -The Effects of transgenic Maize in Mexico</a></p><p><a href="http://www.newfarm.org/international/pan-am_don/aug04/oaxaca.shtml">New Farm: Transgenic contamination of Mexican corn adds insult to NAFTA injury</a></p><p><a href="http://www.newfarm.org/international/pan-am_don/aug04/tepotzetlan.shtml">New Farm: Growing corn in Mexico, post NAFTA</a>