Evidence of Illegal GMO Maize Import to Holland

["greenbase" <greenbas@gb.greenpeace.org>]

GREENPEACE PROVIDES NEW EVIDENCE OF  ILLEGAL MAIZE IMPORTS INTO
HOLLAND

BRUSSELS,  March 2,  1998 -- Greenpeace today provided new
evidence to the European Commission of illegal imports of
genetically manipulated maize into Europe through the
Netherlands. 

Greenpeace has provided the European Environment Commissioner,
Ritt  Bjerregaard with the analysis and  is calling on the
Commission  to take immediate steps to force the Netherlands to
stop the import  and further dissemination across Europe of US
maize and maize  products. 

The Atlantic Savior carrying US maize glutenfeed, which is
composed of processed maize and up to 15 percent maize kernels,
arrived in  Rotterdam harbour on February 23. A sample from the
Atlantic Savior  was analyzed by Gene Scan in Freiburg, Germany.
The analysis  confirmed the presence of Novartis transgenic
maize, and gave a  strong indication of the presence of other
unidentified genetically  manipulated maize products."The Dutch
authorities' refusal to block  the entrance of US maize and
maize products,  which are highly likely  to be contaminated
with illegal genetically manipulated maize, leaves  European
consumers unknowingly exposed to genetically altered  products,"
said Greenpeace spokesperson Louise Gale.

On Saturday in Germany, Greenpeace activists blocked the MS
Bernisse which carried US maize glutenfeed from the Atlantic
Savior, prior to its arrival in Basel,  Switzerland. With the
agreement of the German authorities, the Swiss authorities
seized the cargo of the MS Bernisse even prior to it coming into
Switzerland.

"The Dutch authorities behave as if they are part of the USA.
They obviously have obviously ignored that their responsibility 
is to ensure protection of the European public and environment,"
said  Isabelle Meister of Greenpeace. "Greenpeace calls on the
European  Commission to force the Netherlands to comply with
European law by  preventing the unloading of any US originating
maize and maize  product."

Last year only three EU unauthorised genetically altered maize
products were allowed by the US to contaminate its entire  maize
harvest. The 1998 harvest  will most likely contain many more
unauthorised genetically manipulated products.

"It is outrageous that the Netherlands allows the US authorities
to decide whether European consumers eat genetically manipulated
maize or natural maize," said Meister. "We call on the European
Commission to immediately remind the US and the EU member states
that it will never tolerate any attempt to smuggle EU
unauthorised genetically manipulated products into Europe."

"If the US wants to keep Europe as an export market they will
have  to learn that they will need to comply with European 
safety standards and act on the concerns of European consumers
over  genetically manipulated products," Meister said.

Greenpeace on the Internet at http://www.greenpeace.org