Monsanto hoodlum-like says Argentine

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GMW: Monsanto " hoodlum-like " says Argentine government

" GM WATCH " <info

 

 

Sat, 19 Mar 2005 21:30:35 GMT

 

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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Monsanto " hoodlum-like " says Argentine

 

Even in a country as apparently intent as Argentina on heading down the

biotech route regardless, they're in little doubt as to the kind of

industry they're dealing with:

 

" Monsanto persists in its hoodlum-like attitude, one which stands afar

from normal business practices, "

The Agriculture Secretariat of Argentina

 

They should certainly know by now:

*Monsanto threatened Argentina (14/7/2004)

http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4136

*Monsanto strong-arming Argentina - again! (28/10/2003)

http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=1660

 

And if this is how Monsanto deals with the likes of Argentina - one of

the world's agricultural giants, one can imagine how poorer countries

are likely to fare at the hands of the biotech bullies.

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Argentina slams Monsanto for " attitude " on GMO royalties

Taos Turner

Dow Jones Newswires, March 17, 2005

 

BUENOS AIRES -The Argentine government late Wednesday was cited as

slamming U.S.-based biotechnology giant Monsanto Co. for having a

" hoodlum-like attitude " in its effort to ensure that local farmers pay

royalties

for using genetically modified soybean seeds designed by the company.

 

The story explains that Monsanto has had trouble collecting royalties

since the seeds were introduced here in 1996. In a renewed collection

effort,

Monsanto recently began telling exporters that it would impose a

$15-per-metric-ton fee on soybean exports.

 

If exporters decline to pay the fee, they will face the prospect of

being sued in the courts of European countries that import Argentine

soybeans,

Monsanto says.

 

Monsanto says it has the legal right to collect royalties on Argentine

exports when they reach the ports of countries that recognize the

company's

seed patent.

 

Monsanto does not have a patent on the seeds, known as Roundup Ready

soy, in Argentina.

The Agriculture Secretariat was quoted as saying in a statement late

Wednesday that, " Unfortunately, and despite all the meetings and

conversations we've had while trying to come up with a legal framework

for the

sale of seeds, Monsanto persists in its hoodlum-like attitude, one

which stands afar from normal business practices, " and that it would not

tolerate Monsanto's " bravado. "

 

 

 

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