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Zero
tolerance:
No GMO releases via seed contamination
AMSTERDAM,
THE NETHERLANDS, 22 March 2002 - Proposed amendments to European
Union (EU) Seed Directives specify allowable limits for GMO
(genetically modified organism) contamination of seeds. However,
Greenpeace asserts that any detectable GMO contamination presents
an unacceptable risk to the environment. The proposed regulation
must reflect this fact by legislating "zero tolerance"
for GMO contamination of seeds.
 The
risks
Genetic
pollution from GE crops is irreversible and has the potential
to be a problem that multiplies as plants grow and reproduce.
Contamination of conventional seed lots with genetically modified
organisms (GMOs) can happen during breeding, propagation and
processing of seeds. Non-GE or organic crops in neighbouring
fields can be pollinated by GE crops.
Only
recently a European Environment Agency report
came to the conclusion that oilseed rape, for instance, can
be desribed as high risk for gene flow from crop to crop and
crop to wild relatives. Other major food crops like sugar
beet and maize are medium to high risk.
Semi-wild, weed
or ‘feral’ populations of GE plants can develop if GE crops
survive in the agricultural or natural environment. The consquences
can be seen in Canada, where GE volunteer weeds resistant
to a range of herbicides have emerged after only 5 years of
commercial growing of GE oilseed rape.
Amendments
clearly needed
The European Commission is now working to amend
the Seed Directives specifically to regulate the presence
of GMOs in conventional seeds. It is already illegal to release
and market any GMOs in the EU not approved under the relevant
legislation. But the question of how to deal with the presence
of EU-approved GMOs in conventional seeds was unclear. Greenpeace
has repeatedly pointed to this problem and supports clear,
binding and effective regulation at the EU level.
The Greenpeace
position
Stakeholders were invited by the European Commission to comment
on the proposed measures and in March 2002 Greenpeace
made a submission. Greenpeace asserts that the precautionary
principle should be the basis of any legislation dealing with
deliberate or non-intentional release of GMOs into the environment.
Legislators should guarantee the fundamental right of consumers,
farmers and citizens to refuse GMOs, and should protect the
environment against unnecessary risks and potentially irreversible
damage.
Greenpeace demands
zero tolerance for contamination of seeds by both approved
and unapproved GMOs. Certified quality assurance regimes
must be implemented to ensure the greatest possible care is
taken to prevent GMO contamination. Zero tolerance means in
effect that no contamination be detectable. PCR
(polymerase chain reaction) testing now has a detection
threshold of 0.1 percent contamination.
Industry claims
misguided
Industry claims that it is already impossible to avoid genetic
contamination, and under lobby pressure from agribusiness
the EU is proposing to allow 0.3 to 0.7 percent contamination
of seeds. However, recent evidence shows it is completely
unnecessary to allow this high level of contamination. A list
established by cropchoice.com
in January 2002 names more than 30
US companies able to provide GMO free seeds (below the
0.1 percent threshold of contamination). Furthermore, a number
of European national governments have confirmed that the seeds
they have tested this year and last were, by and large, below
this detection level.
Zero Tolerance
To summarise, it is imperative to establish legislation to
ensure that no GMO contamination above detection level is
allowed in conventional seeds, and to establish controls which
ensure this remains the case.
Save our
seeds!
A petition
to save seeds from contamination has been launched by a broad
coalition of initiatives including Greenpeace. It will be
submitted to the institutions of the European Union as well
as national ministries in charge. The petition is available
in several languages.Sign
the online petition to keep seeds free from genetic manipulation.
The petition can be signed until June 28th.
Further information
on the issue:
Monsanto
admits to another instance of unapproved GE crops contaminating
food supply
GE
oilseed rape - Out of control in Canada? Greenpeace International
- April 2002
Genetic
Pollution - A Multiplying Nightmare, Greenpeace briefing,
February 2002, (pdf)
European
Environment Agency (2002) Genetically modified organisms (GMOs):
The significance of gene flow through pollen transfer. Environmental
Issue Report No. 28
Commission
of the European Communities (January 2002) Working Doc. SANCO/1542/02
(pdf)
Greenpeace
International (March 2002) Comments on Working Doc. SANCO/1542/02
Summary of Greenpeace
comments (pdf)
Call
to save Mexico's corn from genetic contamination
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