US attacks Commission's report on protecting Mexican maize

[Guest guest]

US attacks Commission's report on protecting Mexican maize

" GM WATCH " <info

 

Tue, 9 Nov 2004 08:41:10 GMT

 

 

US attacks Commission's report on protecting Mexican maize

http://www.gmwatch.org

------

EXCERPT: The report was originally to be released in June, but U.S.

officials condemned the science behind the report as faulty and asked for

more time to study it. That angered the report's authors, a

distinguished group that includes geneticists, ecologists and a former

executive

of Monsanto...

 

Some of them accused the Bush administration of trying to bury the

report, at least until after last week's presidential election. They also

noted that the report could hurt the United States in a pending World

Trade Organization suit in which the Bush administration is challenging

European bans on importing modified food products.

------

Report on protecting Mexican crops from modified corn criticized

BY HUGH DELLIOS

Chicago Tribune, Nov 8 2004

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/world/10131606.htm

 

MEXICO CITY - (KRT) - An international agency issued a report Monday

recommending controversial measures to protect Mexico's native corn

species from U.S. imports of genetically engineered corn, but it was

quickly

criticized by U.S. officials and industry groups.

 

The report by the Commission on Environmental Cooperation, an agency

established to advise the United States, Canada and Mexico on the

environmental impact of free trade, found no evidence of risk to

Mexican crops

from modified corn being imported now, but warned of potential future

threats.

 

Among the recommendations to assure that the imported corn does not get

planted and contaminate Mexico's native corn were milling all U.S. corn

upon its arrival in Mexico, better labeling of the imports and

extending a moratorium on commercial planting of lab-engineered corn

until more

safeguards are in place.

 

" With the current varieties being imported, we haven't found an impact,

but they haven't really been studied either, " said Chantal Line

Carpentier, head of the agency's environment and trade programs. " The

concern

is for what (engineered corn) varieties are coming down the line. "

 

The report was originally to be released in June, but U.S. officials

condemned the science behind the report as faulty and asked for more time

to study it. That angered the report's authors, a distinguished group

that includes geneticists, ecologists and a former executive of

Monsanto, a company that produces modified corn genes.

 

Some of them accused the Bush administration of trying to bury the

report, at least until after last week's presidential election. They also

noted that the report could hurt the United States in a pending World

Trade Organization suit in which the Bush administration is challenging

European bans on importing modified food products.

 

On Monday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the office of

the U.S. special trade representative again condemned the report, saying

it is " fundamentally flawed and unscientific " and contradicted the

findings of the national science academies of the United States,

Mexico and

other countries.

 

" Biotechnology offers the world enormous opportunities to combat hunger

and protect the environment, " the agencies said in a statement.

" Implementing many of the report's recommendations would cause

economic harm

to farmers and consumers in all NAFTA countries and restrict

international trade. "

 

Ricardo Celma, the Mexico representative to the U.S. Grain Council,

said that milling the 6 million metric tons of corn expected to be

imported this year would cost about $20 million. Up to 50 percent of

that corn

is genetically modified to make it pest resistant or give it other

special traits.

 

U.S. officials Friday agreed to the release of the report, three weeks

after it was leaked to the Greenpeace environmental group and published

in the Mexican news media. Officials denied trying to obstruct its

release, saying they needed the extra time to " set the record straight on

this issue. "

 

Mexico's federal environmental agency welcomed the publication of the

report after it was leaked in October. It said it was already carrying

out some of the report's recommendations, such as educating small

farmers about the risks and benefits.

 

The study began in 2002 after a team of California scientists claimed

to have found U.S. lab-modified genes mysteriously growing in corn in

the remote hills of Oaxaca. The government confirmed the genes' presence,

but insisted it did not threaten native corn in Mexico, the birthplace

of the crop.

 

" We stand by our report, " Carpentier said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-----------

[Guest guest]

Mai Wan Ho has a report in Acres USA this month telling why not to use GMO

intereference....try www.acresusa.com to find it. ng

 

 

-

" califpacific " <califpacific

 

Tuesday, November 09, 2004 4:04 PM

US attacks Commission's report on

protecting Mexican maize

 

>

> US attacks Commission's report on protecting Mexican maize

> " GM WATCH " <info

>

> Tue, 9 Nov 2004 08:41:10 GMT

>

>

> US attacks Commission's report on protecting Mexican maize

> http://www.gmwatch.org

> ------

> EXCERPT: The report was originally to be released in June, but U.S.

> officials condemned the science behind the report as faulty and asked for

> more time to study it. That angered the report's authors, a

> distinguished group that includes geneticists, ecologists and a former

> executive

> of Monsanto...

>

> Some of them accused the Bush administration of trying to bury the

> report, at least until after last week's presidential election. They also

> noted that the report could hurt the United States in a pending World

> Trade Organization suit in which the Bush administration is challenging

> European bans on importing modified food products.

> ------

> Report on protecting Mexican crops from modified corn criticized

> BY HUGH DELLIOS

> Chicago Tribune, Nov 8 2004

> http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/world/10131606.htm

>

> MEXICO CITY - (KRT) - An international agency issued a report Monday

> recommending controversial measures to protect Mexico's native corn

> species from U.S. imports of genetically engineered corn, but it was

> quickly

> criticized by U.S. officials and industry groups.

>

> The report by the Commission on Environmental Cooperation, an agency

> established to advise the United States, Canada and Mexico on the

> environmental impact of free trade, found no evidence of risk to

> Mexican crops

> from modified corn being imported now, but warned of potential future

> threats.

>

> Among the recommendations to assure that the imported corn does not get

> planted and contaminate Mexico's native corn were milling all U.S. corn

> upon its arrival in Mexico, better labeling of the imports and

> extending a moratorium on commercial planting of lab-engineered corn

> until more

> safeguards are in place.

>