Save our Seeds

The European GM debate seems as fast, furious and divided as ever.This week`s attack on the biotech industry and the European Commission by NGO, Friends of the Earth, coincides with a vote of no confidence on GMOs from European member states.</p><p><a href="http://www.saveourseeds.org/downloads/EFSAreport">FOE Report: Throwing Caution to the Wind (pdf)</a></p><p><a href="http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L28589489.htm">Reuters</a></p><p><a href="http://www.ethicalcorp.com/content.asp?ContentID=3280">EMEA News: Has the train left the station on genetically modified foods?</a>

A 4 year study of British researchers and industry reports massive and persistant contamination of fields, once planted with GMOs as well as the emergence of multiple herbicide resistant GM mutations. Apart from coexistence problems, the study found no evidence that the GM varieties were more harmful to the environment than other crops.</p><p><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4050475.stm">BBC: Field management is 'key for GM'</a></p><p><a href="http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/new_study_highlights_gm_fe_29112004.html">Friends of the Earth: New study highlight GM fears</a></p><p><a href="http://www.hgca.com/cms_publications.output/2/2/Publications/Publication/Botanical%20and%20rotational%20implications%20of%20genetically%20modified%20herbicide%20tolerance%20in%20winter%20oilseed%20rape%20and%20sugar%20beet%20(BRIGHT%20Project).mspx?fn=show&pubcon=1805">Full BRIGHT report</a>

After fierce dispute with the opposition as well as science and industry lobby, the German Bundestag adopted on Friday a new law on releases of GMOs into the environment as proposed by Agricultural minister Renate Kuenast (Greens). The bill includes strict liability regulations and public registration of all GMO planting and initial co-existence provisions.</p><p><a href="http://news.ft.com/cms/s/c759b000-3f50-11d9-8198-00000e2511c8.html">Financial Times: German bill lays down strict rules for 'genetic' crops</a></p><p><a href="http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L26203881.htm">Reuters: Germany passes strict rules on GM crop cultivation</a></p><p><a href="http://www.verbraucherministerium.de/index-000265812B89107E9DEC6521C0A8D816.html">German Ag ministry: Information on the proposed Amendment to Germany`s Genetic Modification Act</a>

France is still a long way from introducing legislation to transpose an EU directive on genetically modified (GM) crops into national law. An inquiry to inform French deputies about the effects of GM crops began work last week and is due to present its conclusions in March or April 2005. Legislation would only be drafted thereafter.</p><p><a href="http://www.biomedcentral.com/news/20041125/02/">The Scientist: Confusion over French GM law</a>

The "Economist" thinks so: GM soya is already grown in Brasil and seems hard to stop, though non-GM supply is still available. Meanwhile China controversially discusses the cultivation of GM rice.</p><p><a href="http://www.economist.com/business/displayStory.cfm?story_id=3404985">Economist: Brazil and China are set to legalise genetically modified crops</a>

The IUCN World Congress in Bangkok has called for a moratorium on the further release of genetically modified organisms. The resolution "A moratorium on the further release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)" was approved with 84 votes of State Members in favour of it, 48 against and 12 not taking a position. Amongst the NGO Members, 219 voted in favour of the resolution, 22 against and 59 abstained. The IUCN has members from 140 countries (77 States, 114 government agencies, and 800-plus NGOs).</p><p><a href="http://www.iucn.org/congress/index.cfm">IUCN: World Congress news</a></p><p><a href="http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4652">GMWatch: Full background and IUCN resolution</a></p><p><a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-11/23/content_2250475.htm">Xinhua: GMOs release blocked at World Conservation Congress</a>

The US Department for Agriculture has proposed loose "safety assessment" guidelines under which a company may voluntarily consult with the FDA to have its experimental GM crop material deemed "acceptable" as a contaminant in food. This would factually allow for experimental GMOs to be introduced in the global food chain.</p><p><a href="http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2004/ANS01327.html">USDA announcement of draft guidance</a></p><p><a href="http://www.foei.org/publications/pdfs/contamination.pdf">Friends of the Earth background information</a>

Genetically modified rapeseed has been found to propagate in various Japanese ports. Its planting is not permitted in Japan, but it can be imported as food and feed.</p><p><a href="http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20041121a9.htm">The Japan Times Online</a>

Industry has dropped its last attempts to get GM seeds approved for growing in Britain, in a final surrender of its dream to spread modified crops rapidly across the country Bayer CropScience has withdrawn the only two remaining applications in the UK.</p><p><a href="http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/environment/story.jsp?story=585086">Independent on Sunday</a>

The European Commission is poised to increase pressure on five member states (Austria, Luxembourg, Germany, France and Greece) to lift their bans on four genetically modified varieties of corn and rape seeds meant for cultivation, import and processing that the European Union has approved as safe.</p><p><a href="http://www.soyatech.com/bluebook/news/viewarticle.ldml?a=20041110-3">Inside U.S.</a>