GE-FREE SOY SHIPMENT ARRIVES IN EUROPE: GREENPEACE TO INDUSTRY - 'JUST DO IT!'

20 April 2000

SAINT-NAZAIRE, FRANCE -- Greenpeace and the French Farmers’ Union 'Confédération Paysanne' today welcomed the arrival in Saint-Nazaire, west coast of France, of the carrier ship 'Jamnurenaree' carrying around 25,000 tonnes of conventional soy meal from Brazil to Europe. Greenpeace activists and farmers unfurled banners early Thursday morning as the ship arrived at the Saint-Nazaire harbour.

"The arrival of this GE-free soybean shipment is good news for the European food and animal feed industries," said Arnaud Apoteker of Greenpeace. "This shipment proves that there is plenty of conventional, non-GE soy available on the world market. The European animal feed industry must stop pretending otherwise."

The food industry in Europe has in recent years rejected GMOs in great numbers. At the same time the feed industry has been spared public scrutiny. However, over 80 per cent of imported GE soy in Europe goes to the feed industry.

The soy meal cargo of the Jamnurenaree will be used for animal feed by French retailer Carrefour.

Greenpeace calls on the European feed industry to go GE-free. "Since most of the imported GMOs in Europe are used for animal feed, the feed industry has a major role in the debate," said Apoteker. "The feed industry has only recently started to move on the GE issue. European consumers can consider the arrival of this shipment as the first victory to a truly GE-free diet." Greenpeace has compiled lists of GE-free products to help consumers to avoid foods containing GMOs. The list of the GE policies of food producers in 14 countries around the world is available from the Greenpeace GE campaign website: www.greenpeace.org/~geneng/reports/food/food004.htm

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

- Arnaud Apoteker Greenpeace France, mobile, +33 6 0757 3160
- Mika Railo, Greenpeace International Press Desk, +31 20 5249 548

Follow Greenpeace's GE campaign on the web:
www.greenpeace.org/~geneng