GREENPEACE URGES THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO STOP IMPORT OF MONSANTO'S GENETICALLY MODIFIED "RR" SOYA

6 September 2001

Brussels - Greenpeace today urged the European Commission to recognise that Monsanto's genetically modified soya, currently imported and sold under the commercial name "Roundup Ready" (RR), has never received an EU approval and should, therefore, be withdrawn from the market. The demand is contained in a letter addressed to Environment commissioner, Margot Wallström, and Health and Consumer Protection commissioner, David Byrne.

According to a peer-reviewed study, recently published by a team of Belgian scientists (1), the genome of Monsanto's "RR" soya currently marketed in the EU contains "unknown DNA". Therefore, it does not correspond to the genetic map of the RR soya for which an EU authorisation was granted in April 1996 (2). The paper reports "…a DNA segment of 534 bp (base pairs) DNA for which no sequence homology could be detected". The scientists conclude that "…during integration of the insert DNA rearrangements or a large deletion may have occurred".

These latest findings follow the discovery of two other unexpected gene fragments in the RR soya by the same team last year (3). This "unknown" DNA could influence the regulation and/or functioning of neighbouring genes, or possibly code for an unknown protein. If it is rearranged DNA, it could have been part of, or a regulatory element for, one or more plant genes, leading to malfunctioning of these genes.

"According to the EU rules - said Brigid Gavin, Greenpeace European Unit - the accurate description of the inserted DNA and its expected functions is fundamental in the risk assessment required for GMO approvals, which are always granted on a case by case basis (4). From a legal point of view, therefore, the only adequate reaction from the European and national authorities would be to suspend the current approval and re-evaluate the environmental and health impact of the genetically modified 'RR' soya".

In a separate move, Greenpeace Netherlands today has taken the first step towards legal action by formally requesting the Dutch Health Minister to halt imports of Monsanto's "Roundup Ready" soya. Greenpeace has warned the Minister that it will present the case to a national judge if its request does not receive a satisfactory answer within four weeks.

Greenpeace is also drawing attention to other scientific studies, published after the introduction of Monsanto's genetically modified soya, which highlight unexpected and unexplained effects, potentially related to either the inserted gene or the insertion process. In particular, a peer reviewed report (published in March /April 2001) following fields trials with genetically modified soya in the US shows a 5% yield suppression, compared to conventional crops (5). Scientists conclude that the yield suppression appears to be associated with the Roundup Ready gene or its insertion process, rather than with the type of soya variety used or the application of the Roundup herbicide (glyphosate) on the crops.

Further studies on RR Soya include Lappé et al. (1998/1999) on alteration in clinical important phytoestrogens (6), King et al. (2001) on nitrogenase activity in response to glyphosate application (7), Coghlan, A. (1999) on increased lignin content, which made RR soya plants brittle in hot temperatures (8). All these studies clearly demonstrate the need and urgency of a thorough scientific reassessment of the RR soya.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Brigid Gavin, GMO advisor, Greenpeace European Unit, Brussels: Tel. +32 2 280 14 00
Lorenzo Consoli, media officer, Greenpeace European Unit, Brussels: Mobile +32 496 12 21 12
Lindsay Keenan, Greenpeace International Campaigner, Berlin
Tel. +49 30 30 88 99 15 - Mobile +49 179 164 6800

A fully referenced and detailed assessment of the situation and the technical details of the case is available on request. Alternatively, download it from Greenpeace's genetic engineering web site, Archive section, 15/08/2001 Unknown DNA in Monsanto's genetically engineered soya.

An electronic copy of Greenpeace's letter to the commissioners is available on request.

(1) Characterisation of the Roundup Ready soybean insert, Peter Windels, Isabel Taverniers, Ann Depicker, Eric Van Bockstaele, Marc De Loose, (2001) Characterisation of the Roundup Ready soybean insert. European Journal of Food Research Technology, v.213, issue 2, pp. 107-112. http://link.springer.de/link/service/journals/00217/bibs/1213002/12130107.htm

(2) European Commission Decision of April 3, 1996 (96/281/EC)

(3) The Belgian team had last year already discovered two formerly unknown DNA strains in Monsanto's GE soya thereby forcing Monsanto to eventually reveal this information to EU authorities in May 2000. These two inserts were identified as fragments of the initial insert and presumed to be insignificant and non-coding. See http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/committees/acnfp/acnfpassessments.htm The Roundup Ready Soya currently being sold, therefore, contains at least 3 additional gene sequences: * A second 72 base pair DNA fragment (from CP4 EPSPS) * An additional 250 base pair segment of CP4 EPSPS DNA * A further 534 base pair segment of `unidentified DNA` as described in the publication today

(4) Commission Decision of 3 April 1996 (96/281/EC) states: "…consent shall be given by the competent authorities of the United Kingdom for the placing on the market of the following product notified by Monsanto Europe (Ref. C/UK/94/M3/1) under Article 13 of Directive 90/220/EEC. The product consists of Soya beans derived from a Soya bean (Glycine max L. cv A5403) line (40-3-2) in which the following sequences have been inserted: - a single copy of the gene coding for glyphosate tolerance CP4 5 enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (CP4 EPSPS) from Agrobacterium sp. strain CP4, and the chloroplast transit peptide (CTP) coding sequence from Petunia hybrida with the promoter P-E35S from cauliflower mosaic virus and the nopaline synthase gene terminator from Agrobacterium tumefaciens".

(5) Elmore R.W., Roeth F. W., Nelson L.A., Shapiro C.A., Klein R.N., Knezevic S.Z. and Martin A. (2001) Glyphosate-Resistant Soybean Cultivar Yields Compared with Sister Lines, Agronomy Journal, VOL. 93, MARCH-APRIL 2001, p 408-412

(6) Lappé, M.A., Bailey, E.B., Childress, C.C. & Setchell, K.D.R. (1998/1999), Alterations in Clinically Important Phytoestrogens in Genetically Modified, Herbicide-Tolerant Soybeans. Journal of Medicinal Food, 1, 241-245.

(7) King C.A, Purcell L.C, and Vories E.D, (2001) Plant Growth and Nitrogenase Activity of Glyphosate-Tolerant Soybean in Response to Foliar Glyphosate Applications, Agronomy Journal. 93:179-186

(8) Coghlan, A. (1999) Splitting headache. Monsanto's modified Soya beans are cracking up in the heat. New Scientist, 20 Nov. 1999, p. 25.