ILLEGAL MONSANTO MAIZE CONTAMINATES SWISS FOOD - FURTHER EVIDENCE OF UNAUTHORIZED GROWING OF GE CROPS IN ARGENTINA

ILLEGAL MONSANTO MAIZE CONTAMINATES SWISS FOOD - FURTHER EVIDENCE OF UNAUTHORIZED GROWING OF GE CROPS IN ARGENTINA

24 April 2002

Zurich/the Hague – Greenpeace today confiscated thousands of boxes of Argentinean-imported maize products from Swiss supermarkets after genetic testing showed they are contaminated with Monsanto’s genetically engineered (GE) variety Roundup Ready GA21. This variety has not been approved for human consumption in Europe nor for commercial growing in Argentina, which further fuels suspicion of illegal plantings of GE crops in Argentina (1).

In Zurich, Greenpeace activists packed contaminated products into a gigantic 5-times-3-metre parcel ready for a delivery back to Monsanto, Argentina, calling for an immediate withdrawal of all contaminated maize from the European market as well as a full investigation of illegal plantings of GE crops in Argentina and elsewhere.

“The damage is done to both the European consumers and for the Argentinean producers,” said Bruno Heinzer from Greenpeace Switzerland. “Monsanto seeks to dictate the world’s food production from fields to plates by imposing this potentially dangerous technology and GE products on everyone – regardless of all precautions others may have in place.”

“Food Dictator Monsanto is deliberately putting Argentinean maize exports at risk with its ruthless strategy of spreading genetic contamination,” said Daniela Montalto, Greenpeace Argentina, speaking in Zurich. “This scandal supports evidence from a Greenpeace investigation last year that indicated illegal plantings of Monsanto's herbicide resistant GE crops may be going on in three maize production provinces of Buenos Aires, Santa Fe and Cordoba. The company and the Argentinean Government have so far ignored calls to disclose information although this variety clearly has not been approved for planting, human or animal consumption in Argentina or for import to Europe.”

Greenpeace handed over a parcel of seized maize products also to the GE industry representatives at the UN Biosafety Protocol meeting in the Hague, in the Netherlands, asking the company to take responsibility for the damage it is causing by ignoring the existing laws and the Precautionary Principle, which is at heart of the Biosafety Protocol. (2)

“We demand that Monsanto is made to play by the rules and is also held liable for any damage and cost resulting from the genetic contamination it spreads. World governments urgently need to get on with the ratification and implementation of the Biosafety Protocol in order not to backtrack from the commitment to create an effective liability regime to cover the cost of contamination, which is unfortunately bound to happen as long as GE crops are being produced,” said Miges Baumann, the head of Greenpeace delegation in Den Haag.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
In Zurich, Bruno Heinzer, Greenpeace Switzerland, Tel: +41 79 400 88 31;
Daniela Montalto, Greenpeace Argentina, Mob: +41794801974;
In Buenos Aires, Emiliano Ezcurra, Greenpeace Argentina, Mob: +54-11 51094104;
In the Hague, Miges Baumann, Head of Greenpeace Delegation at the UN Biosafety meeting, Mob: +41 79 471 66 60;
Dr Doreen Stabinsky, Science and Biosafety Expert, Greenpeace International, Tel: +31(0)629001144;
Teresa Merilainen, Media Officer, Greenpeace International, Tel: +31205236637
Photos available from Greenpeace International Picture Desk,
John Novis, Tel: +31205249580 or Mob: +31653819121;
Video available from Greenpeace Switzerland, Paul Scherer, Tel: +411 4474155.

1. Greenpeace tested maize semolina imported from Argentina to Switzerland, and detected contamination in three food products: COOP Polenta Dorara, Valgarona Polenta Rapida, Valgarona Polenta Rustica, all marketed by COOP Switzerland. The tests confirmed the presence of the Roundup Ready GA21 maize, which is produced by Monsanto. Tests were conducted by laboratory Genescan, in Germany.

2. More information on the UN Biosafety talks on: http://www.greenpeace.org/~geneng/