NEW EVIDENCE SHOWS BT-MAIZE KILLS USEFUL PREDATORY INSECTS

NEW EVIDENCE SHOWS BT-MAIZE KILLS USEFUL PREDATORY INSECTS

23 April 1998

Brussels -- Newly published scientific research shows that genetically engineered crops which produce insecticides may well be able to harm species higher up in the food chain than originally thought. A Swiss research paper published in Environmental Entomology journal next week shows that useful predatory insects may be poisoned by feeding on pests that have consumed Novartis genetically engineered maize. Similar research information was withheld by Novartis during the original EU approval process.

Greenpeace today alerted the European Commission about the findings and demanded an immediate European-wide ban for Novartis genetically altered maize. "These kinds of negative effects are well known and documented to occur with chemical insecticides such as DDT. Until now proponents of genetic engineering claimed it to be unlikely to occur with their genetically altered crops. However, this safety belief has now been proved false," said Greenpeace spokesperson Louise Gale.

The difference between chemical insecticides and genetically engineered crops producing insecticides is that the genetically engineered crops produce their insecticide through their entire life cycle. Each single engineered maize plant is a pesticide production facility that stands in the field and keeps producing insecticide.

A study submitted by Novartis to the US Environmental Protection Agency in November 1994 on the effects of its genetically engineered Bt toxin on springtail suggested that the genetically engineered maize is harmful also to species which were not infected by natural Bt formulation (1). Studies like this were not part of the dossier submitted by Novartis when it applied for market consent in Europe.

The threat to predatory species is threatening to undermine modern pest management. The preservation of predatory fauna is one of the most important tactics of modern pest management. "It is difficult to understand how the European Commission could have allowed the transgenic maize in absence of this kind of crucial research," said Gale.

Greenpeace demands that France and the European Commission now immediately follow the example given by Austria and Luxembourg and withdraw the European authorization given to Novartis.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Louise Gale, Greenpeace EU advisor: +32.2.280 1400
Isabelle Meister, Greenpeace International: +41.79.418 44 55
Jan van Aken, Greenpeace Germany: +49.40. 306 18 396

Novartis genetically engineered maize plants produces a toxin from the soil bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Natural Bt formulation have been used for decades as an environmentally friendly pest control tool. Negative effects on non-target species or species higher up in the food chain were not observed with the natural Bt formulation where the toxin is produced in an inactive form during sporulation of the bacteria.