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Evidence Reveals that Illegal Genetically
Engineered Seeds
Contaminate U.S. Canola Crops
Consumer-Environmental Coalition Files Legal Action
Seeking Criminal Investigation of Monsanto and Aventis
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Joseph Mendelson, CFS (202) 547-9359 Matt Rand, NET (202)
887-8841
Washington, DC - Today, Monday, April 15, 2002,
the Center for Food Safety (CFS) filed a legal petition with the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) seeking a criminal
investigation of two biotechnology companies, Monsanto and Aventis.
The petition is filed on behalf of CFS and the Genetically Engineered
Food Alert (GEFA) coalition. It describes newly discovered evidence
that genetically engineered canola seed not approved in the United
States may have illegally entered into the commercial US seed supply,
potentially contaminating canola seed already sold to farmers.
In the past months, two of the country's largest
agribusiness corporations, Monsanto and Aventis, have applied for
commercial approval of three varieties of canola, GT200 (Monsanto),
Topas 19/2 (Aventis) and RF1 (Aventis). None of these three canola
varieties is currently approved for commercial sale in the United
States. The USDA, the federal agency with control over planting
and seed sale permission, has not yet approved these canola varieties
over concerns that crops can be plant pests. Yet the companies admit
that the new varieties may have contaminated U.S. seed supplies,
and are now applying for approval in an attempt to avoid a massive
food and seed recall.
The Center for Food Safety discovered this new
evidence of GE seed contamination through a Freedom of Information
Act (FOIA) request. The FOIA documents and USDA environmental assessments
clearly show that both companies were aware of the contamination
with the illegal seeds and sought USDA approval in an attempt to
avoid liability. Included in the materials that the Center for Food
Safety requested was a letter from Monsanto from last November to
the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in which the company admits
to potential contamination. "Although glyphosate-tolerant canola
event GT200 is not intended to be commercialized . . .[it] has the
potential to be present in low, adventitious levels in commercial
canola varieties." (Letter to USDA from Monsanto, November 9, 2001)
"This is genetic pollution of our food
supply," explained Joseph Mendelson, Legal Director for the Center
for Food Safety. "And now Monsanto and Aventis are asking the USDA
for a cover-up. We are demanding a full criminal investigation of
two the companies, and an inquiry into USDA's actions in not making
this matter public."
Monsanto was faced with a similar seed contamination
situation in 1997. At that time, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
("CFIA") suspended the sale of a Monsanto genetically engineered
Roundup Ready canola due to the fact that it was contaminated with
an unapproved variety event GT200. The suspension led to a subsequent
recall of 60,000 bags of contaminated canola seed (enough to plant
600,000 acres) and forced the Canadian government to broker deals
with farmers to plow under fields already planted with the contaminated
seed. According to Monsanto, the problem may have occurred because
the company allowed the seeds to get mixed up and bred together.
"Once again we are faced with a regulatory
breakdown with regards to genetically engineered foods; a case in
which government oversight has been lax and laws has been broken,"
said Matt Rand, Biotechnology Campaign Manager for the National
Environmental Trust.
source: http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/inthenews/CanolaPet2.htm
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