GIANT GE CORN GREETS DELEGATES AT OPENING OF BIOSAFETY NEGOTIATIONS

24 January 2000

MONTREAL -- Greenpeace today demonstrated in front of the International Aviation Building in Montreal, Canada, where representatives of over 130 nations have assembled to negotiate an international Biosafety Protocol to regulate trade in genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Activists erected a seven metre high corn cob gulping butterflies and unfurled a banner "Stop genetic pollution, Biosafety Now!" above the main entrance as delegates arrived.

"The preparatory negotiations during the last four days indicate that the six grain exporting countries headed by the USA and Canada, continue their strategy to obstruct any global agreement on biosafety," said Benedikt Haerlin of Greenpeace. A year ago this so called 'Miami group' forced the collapse of the Biosafety negotiations in Cartagena, Colombia. Canada, the US and Argentina are the world’s only GMO exporting countries. "The 'Miami Group' is putting trade and industry interests before the health of people and the protection of global diversity," Haerlin said. "It is outrageous that a handful of countries threaten the success of the Biosafety negotiations by trying to impose their will on the rest of the international community."

Genetically engineered corn has become a symbol of the new environmental threat from GMOs. Bt-corn has unintended detrimental effects on butterflies and other non-target insects. It can also transfer its toxic traits to other cultivated and wild relatives. Genetically engineered corn is presently exported to dozens of countries without any prior information to governments or the public.

Unregulated export of this corn is a particular threat to Mexico, the world’s centre of origin for corn. The diversity of corn, on which future breeding depends, is threatened by genetic contamination. Over three million tons of GMO contaminated corn is exported from the US to Mexico annually. The 'Miami group' insists that any exports classified as food or feed should remain unregulated.

"The world governments have worked hard on this for five years," said Haerlin. "Public interest in genetic engineering and the protocol has never been so high. This is the decisive week for this historically important meeting and the public will hold their politicians accountable for the result."

The Biosafety Protocol is a part of the UN Biodiversity Convention signed in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The Biosafety meeting which is scheduled to run until January 28 will try to adopt rules on the transboundary movement of genetically engineered organisms.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

- Benny Haerlin, Greenpeace International Campaign Coordinator, +1 416 271 8408
- Johanne Fillion, Greenpeace Canada Press Officer, + 1 514 242 5772
- Mika Railo, Greenpeace International Press Officer in Montreal, +31 6 212 969 08

Footage and stills are available.

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