BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- Greenpeace found genetically modified corn illegally entering the European Union during tests this month on a U.S. shipment in the Dutch port of Rotterdam, the environmental campaign group said Monday.
Greenpeace urged the EU executive to act immediately to confiscate the cargo and temporarily suspend all imports of U.S. agricultural produce that could contain unauthorized genetically modified content.
European Commission spokesman Michael Mann said the EU had no intention of imposing a blanket ban on such U.S. agricultural imports, and that it was up to Dutch authorities to take action by logging any illegal corn.
Wary of public health and environmental concerns, the EU allows only genetically modified food and animal feed that has been evaluated and authorized to be placed on the EU market.
Greenpeace said the illegal corn samples came from a ship moored in Rotterdam harbor on April 10. The ship, which had also docked in Ireland, claimed it was carrying GM-free corn from the United States, the group said.
A laboratory found that samples from the shipment contained two unauthorized types of genetically engineered maize -- Herculex(R) RW 59122, developed by Pioneer and Dow Agrosciences to be resistant to rootworm pests, and Monsanto's MON863, which is currently being tested by the European Food Safety Authority, Greenpeace said.
''This is the fourth time in the past two years that illegal, unapproved genetically modified organisms enter the European market,'' Greenpeace said in a statement.
In October, EU nations stepped up testing for all U.S. long-grain rice imports after two banned GM strain called Liberty Link Rice 601 and LL Rice 62 were accidentally imported from the U.S. Costs were borne by exporters.
Guest (Gids)
but whilst we still have democracies in Europe that aren't as controlled by corporations it would be better for US manufacturers to respect the views of Europeans.
The question of whether Monsanto, and similar companies, do it to solve world poverty or for the money. I think we know the answer.
Guest (tomk)
Re: Interesting points of view,
Well, duh. Of course, they do it for the money. The same money that motivates pharmaceutical companies to develop life saving drugs. The only difference is the US pharmaceuticals compete with EU pharmaceuticals that have meager voting power relative to the EU farmer voting block - the same EU voting block that benefits from embargos against US grain. Hmm, I wonder if the EU farmer block supplements its tremendous voting power with contributions to Green Peace.
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lschuber
13 Comments
Bring on the GM
We have been genetically modifying plants and animals since we first began cultivating and first domesticated livestock and dogs. We simply have figured out how to short the process.
Like food irradiation (which we all do with our coffee and frozen dinners daily), GM foods hold the promise of eradicating starvation in the world, yet the most vocal among us would rather the poor masses die than take the imagined risks associated with food irradiation and bioengineered plants and livestock.
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oceanpine
1 Comment
Re: Bring on the GM
You echo the sentiments of Dow and Monsanto perfectly. Such utter nonsense! It is all about controlling the food and its producers. If it happens to be harmful to the human organism and beneficial insects and birds, it's ok. We get the same attitude from Big Pharma.
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Taganan
3 Comments
Re: Bring on the GM
Greenpeace and their ilk are think the sky is falling if anyone modifies plants to be more resistant to pests. We will be crushed if a farmer can actually produce more and healthier corn. My father built the gene gun for the Cornell professors and it is safe. Those who are against it are the same people who opposed microwave cooking, because it was radiation. They also oppose irradiating foods to make them safe, then complain how unsafe our food supply is due to germs. Just nuts!
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