Save our Seeds

The law would lift a ban on planting, research and commercialization of genetically-modified beans and help boost exports from the world`s second-largest soybean producer.</p><p><a href="http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=71000001&refer=latin_america&sid=adRadqVhOkk8">Bloomberg</a>

1000 GM papaya trees have been destroyed at a Agricultural Research and Development Office in Thailand after the Agriculture Ministry found genetically modified (GM) papaya in samples of a farm which bought seedlings from that station. The ministry vowed to destroy the produce of any farm where GMO contaminated fruit is discovered. Thailand faces import bans from some tinned fruit companies and papaya prices dipped from 5-6 to 1-2 Bath over the scandal.</p><p><a href="http://www.nationmultimedia.com/page.arcview.php3?clid=1&id=106019">The nation, Bangkok: Ministry admits contaminated papaya</a></p><p><a href="http://www.genet-info.org/genet/2004/Sep/msg00059.html">Hawai: Critics complain about papaya contamination</a>

During the Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference (ABIC) in Cologne - one of the world`s biggest annual gatherings of GM business and scientists - a group of protestors have maintained a vigil outside under the shadow of a giant maize cob.</p><p><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3662616.stm">BBC: Struggling to find GM`s middle ground</a>

A joint campaign was launched yesterday in Strasbourg by the Assembly of European Regions and Friends of the Earth to lobby for GMO-free regions.</p><p><a href="http://www.euobserver.com/?sid=9&aid=17288">EU Observer</a></p><p><a href="http://www.foeeurope.org/press/2004/joint_14_sept_GM_free_zones.htm">Friends of the Earth Press Release</a>

For the first time ever, the European Union has approved the planting and sale of genetically-modified (GMO) or biotech seeds throughout its 25-member states.</p><p><a href="http://www.truthabouttrade.org/article.asp?id=2487">Food Navigator</a></p><p><a href="http://www.truthabouttrade.org/article.asp?id=2489">AgBioView</a>

The EU Commission has published a first report to the member states and the European Parliament regarding the implementation of Directive 2001/18 on the deliberate release of GMO into the environment. Lack of experience and of implementation of the Directive by a number of Member States make the document a rather dry reading. The Annex however provides a good overview on the state of affairs regarding the legal situation in the member states and the numbers of releases.</p><p><a href="http://register.consilium.eu.int/pdf/en/04/st12/st12113.en04.pdf">Commission report on the experience of member states with GMOs placed on the market underDirective 2001/18/EC</a></p><p><a href="http://register.consilium.eu.int/pdf/en/04/st12/st12113-ad01.en04.pdf">Annex with statistics and overview</a></p><p><a href="http://www.saveourseeds.org/downloads/Schenkelaars_dg_envi_improve_2001_18_06_06_04.doc"> 1 MB detailed background study how to improve 2001/18</a>

The European Commission on Wednesday withdrew its controversial proposal setting purity levels for labelling of seed containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs). It was withdrawn because it was felt "it was not mature yet", an EU official said, declining to reveal further details.</p><p><a href="http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L08560446.htm">Reuters</a></p><p><a href="http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/news-NG.asp?id=54581">Food Navigator: Com takes on controversial decision</a></p><p><a href="http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/040908114422.bd8mdi7z">AFP: EU delays disputed GMO decision</a>

Brussels, Sept. 8thThe "Save our Seeds" initiative is pleased with todays decision of the European Commissions to withdraw from their agenda a proposal to allow for GM contamintion of conventional seeds of maize and oilseed-rape up to 0,3 percent. "This is an important victory for millions of European citizens and hundred of farmers, environmental, consumers organisations as well as a growing number of companies, who want gmo-free products and seeds and who fiercely opposed the planned contamination rules," said Benedikt Haerlin, spokesperson of the initiative. "The issue will come up again in the new Commission," he added, "and we hope the additional time now will be used by the new Commissioners to fully understand both the environmental and economic risks and threats stemming from uncotrolled and unlabelled seed contamination." In this respect Haerlin has special hopes on the new Commissioner for agriculture,, Else Mariann Fischer Boel, who has so far firmly defended a threshold at the detection level and introduced a submission to this end to the Council of Ministers only in April this year.

The European Commission inscribed on Wednesday the first GM seed varieties in the Common EU Catalogue of Varieties of Agricultural Plant Species. 17 varieties containing Monsantos Mon 810 insect resistance GM-construct, which had until now only been listed in the national seed catalogues of Spain and France, can now be sold across the entire European Union. Mon 810 had been approved under GM legislation in 1998 and was planted in Spain. According to the EU Seed regulations, individual member states can now apply to exempt their territories from this general EU approval.</p><p><a href="http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=6182990">Reuters</a></p><p><a href="http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/04/1083&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en">EUROPA - Rapid - Press Releases">Commission Press Release in all languages</a>

The European Commission is likely to authorize the first genetically modified (GMO) seeds for commercial use across EU territory this week, in the face of widespread consumer resistance to biotech crops.No biotech seeds have so far been approved at EU level, but some national authorizations exist in countries such as France and Spain. This means that only farmers in those countries can buy and then plant the approved seeds.</p><p><a href="http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=6158297">Science Reuters: EU May Allow First GMO Seeds for Sale Across Bloc</a></p><p><a href="http://www.foeeurope.org/press/2004/AB_06_Sept_EU_plans.htm">FOE: EU plans to allow GM crops in through the back door</a>