GMW: Court orders Monsanto to make secret MON863 report public

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GMW: Court orders Monsanto to make secret MON863 report public

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Fri, 10 Jun 2005 11:49:43 +0100

 

 

 

 

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Court orders Monsanto to make scandal report public

Environmental Media Services

 

Source: Greenpeace International

Jun 10, 2005

http://www.ems.org/nws/2005/06/10/court_orders_mon

 

Amsterdam/Cologne, 10 June 2005 - A German law court in Cologne/Germany

today ordered biotechnology giant Monsanto to make one of it's

confidential reports public after the company tried to prevent the

dissemination of its own study. The 1000-page document is in the

center of

international attention after its results were exposed by the British

newspaper

Independent On Sunday (1).

 

Greenpeace have asked for access to the document in Germany referring

to an EU-law which states that the public has the right to have insight

in all documents related to risk assessement of genetically modified

(GM) plants.

 

After the German state authorities endorsed the access, Monsanto filed

a court case against the government of Germany in an attempt to try to

stymie the publishing of the document. Greenpeace joined sides with the

German government in the case and with today's order the original study

should be open for insight by the public.

 

" This is a important success - both for Greenpeace and for the people.

The strategy of secrecy and intransparency of Monsanto failed, and now

the document can be a subject to independent investigations, " said

Greenpeace International campaigner Christoph Then.

 

The aforesaid rat feeding study found " significant " effects in the

blood and organs of the rats fed on the GM maize MON863. A number of

scientists across Europe who have already seen the study expressed

concerns

about the health and safety implications of this GM corn. Monsanto does

not put in question that there were significant health effects in the

rats, but claims that these were not caused by the GM maize. But

according to the opinion of several experts the explanations of

Monsanto are

not sufficient to put down recent concerns.

 

On the 24th of June the Council of EU ministers will decide on the

market authorisation for import and use of MON863 in our food. It is

almost

impossible to evaluate Monsanto's over 1000-page study on the health

effects until that date; in particular because Monsanto is expected to

file a further appeal against the recent decision, which could result in

further delay in the publication of the documents.

 

" EU member states should set a clear signal in the interest of their

people and should reject the application of the GM maize. Otherwise the

maize corn could be permitted by the EU Commission without any further

consultation or votings - and that could have serious consequences, " -

said Then.

 

For more information:

Christoph Then, GE campaigner, Greenpeace International, mobile: +49

171 878 0832

Judit L. Kalovits, media officer, Greenpeace International, mobile: +31

621 296 914

 

(1) Independent On Sunday, 22 April 2005.

 

 

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