GREENPEACE BLOCKS SHIPMENT OF GE SOYBEANS FOR ANIMAL FODDER

23 January 2000

COPENHAGEN -- Greenpeace today took direct action against the unregulated imports of genetically engineered animal fodder to Denmark. About 40 activists from Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, France and Germany have climbed two cranes in Aarhus harbour, preventing the ship Legionario from unloading its shipment of genetically engineered soy-pellets intended for animal fodder. The Legionario transports a 45,000-tonne cargo of soy-pellets.

"While food retailers around Europe are increasingly turning away from genetically engineered ingredients, GE crops continue to enter the European food chain through meat producing countries like Denmark," said Jan Söndergaard of Greenpeace. "European consumers have clearly stated that they don't want to eat GE food but the meat industry continues to ignore the consumer opinion as long as the unregulated import of GE animal fodder continues."

Greenpeace analysed in December 1999 the contents of animal feeds in Denmark. All analysed fodder contained genetically engineered soya. Two samples analysed for the relative GE content showed that the portion of GE soy was over 50 per cent (1).

Denmark is the world's largest exporter of pork. The main market countries for Danish pork are the UK, Germany, Sweden and Japan. Denmark imports annually more than 700,000 tons of soya bean meal in shipments where genetically engineered Roundup Ready soya from Monsanto is mixed with conventional soya.

"People have right to know what they are eating," said Söndergaard "Government delegations gathering in Montreal for the final round of the Biosafety negotiations must agree on a strong Protocol which includes agricultural commodities like soya and clauses on segregation and labelling. We demand the member states of the EU to ensure that by the end of next week we will have a Protocol to protect the environment from genetic pollution.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

- Jan Söndergaard, Greenpeace Nordic, in Aarhus +46 70 461 18 21
- Ulrika Tenlid, Press officer Greenpeace Nordic, +46 70 668 70 70
- Mika Railo, Greenpeace International Press Officer in Montreal +31 6 212 969 08

Follow the Biosafety Protocol negotiations on Greenpeace's GE campaign website: www.greenpeace.org/~geneng/highlights/bio/montreal.htm

(1) Analysis results from Hansa Analytik the 20 and 28 December 1999.