GREENPEACE HAZARD PATROL BLOCKS U.S. GENETIC SOYA LANDING IN BRAZIL

San Francisco do Sul, Brazil, 14 December 1997

An international team of Greenpeace activists today prevented a shipment of genetically engineered soya from the United States from being unloaded at the port of San Francisco do Sul in southern Brazil.

Activists from Greenpeace's "Genetic Hazard Patrol" blocked the Sanko Robust which is carrying an estimated 34,000 metric tonnes of US soya. Greenpeace's Genetic Hazard patrol was created to expose shipments of genetically modified foodstuffs worldwide. Last month, it successfully tracked and blocked a shipment of genetically engineered soya and maize from the US into the Dutch port of Rotterdam, and disrupted distribution routes through Germany and Austria.

"With today's action, Greenpeace alerts the Brazilian public to the contamination of their food supply by genetic engineering," said Marijane Lisboa, from Greenpeace Brazil. "15-20% of US soya production is already genetically engineered. Soya goes into hundreds of processed food products, like oil, margarine, biscuits, ice cream, bread, chocolate, juice, animal food."

The import of genetically modified soya was authorized by the Brazilian bio-safety committee, without any public consultation, following a request from the Brazilian Vegetable Oil Producers Association.

"Brazilians do not have any idea of the risks from releasing genetically altered plants into the natural environment, or of the possible human health impacts, and will probably eat genetically modified products this Christmas", said Lisboa.

"It is vital to separate traditional crops from genetically modified ones during the soya importation and release to the market. The Brazilian government must order the segregation and labelling of food products which contain genetically engineered ingredients. This is the only way to guarantee the consumers right to choose".

A Presidential decree forbids imports of genetically engineered crops without specific permits from Brazil's biosafety comittee. In spite of this, Monsanto -- one of the key companies producing genetically engineered crops -- this year has made multi million dollar purchases of top Brazilian seed companies, including Sementes Agroceres and Monsoy.

Brazil is the second largest soya producer and 90% of it's soya export goes to Europe. The battle here is an important step to stop the genetic engineering lobby worldwide.

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For further information please contact:

Paulo Adario - 55 48 962 2231

Marijane Lisboa, tel.++55 999 7071

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