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GMW: Future of rice hangs in the balance as Chinese Biosafety Committee meets

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GMW: Future of rice hangs in the balance as Chinese Biosafety

Committee meets

" GM WATCH " <info

Tue, 21 Jun 2005 11:18:21 +0100

 

 

 

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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" The proposed commercial release of GE rice is a decision that will

affect every single person in China – as well as future generations, " Ma

said. " It is far too important a decision to be left to a small group of

scientists with vested interests in the technology who have taken the

issue into their own hands. "

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Future of rice hangs in the balance as Chinese Biosafety Committee

meets

June 21, 2005

http://www.greenpeace.org/china/en/press/releases/20050621_Chinese_Biosafety_Com\

mittee_html

 

China — The Chinese Biosafety Committee is meeting in Beijing this week

to discuss the possible approval of genetically engineered (GE) rice,

amid growing national and international turmoil over the illegal spread

of untested GE rice from field trials in Hubei province.

 

Last week, Greenpeace reported the discovery of illegal genetically

engineered (GE) rice in Guangzhou, the largest city in Southern China,

raising fears that the untested GE rice is spreading out of control and

has entered the food chain in major Chinese cities.

 

" Greenpeace are calling on the Biosafety Committee to halt all GE rice

trials and approvals until the illegal GE rice has been contained, "

said Greenpeace campaigner Steven Ma. " The contamination scandal raises

the question of whether the government could regulate GE rice. The

government have not managed to control GE rice in the research stage, how

will it regulate large scale commercialization? "

 

China is considering commercialization of GE rice and officials have

indicated a decision may be made this year. If approved, it will be the

first time that any country has allowed their staple food crop to be

genetically engineered, raising serious concerns about long term food

safety.

 

At their last meeting in November 2004, the Biosafety Committee, an

official advisory group, failed to agree if the government should give

green light to GE rice. Since that time, Greenpeace have revealed the

uncontrolled and illegal sale of GE rice in Hubei province. The

environmental organisation estimates that up to 29 tons of GE rice

seeds have been

sold in Hubei this year, and if no recall action is taken, the seeds

could produce up to 14,500 tons of GE rice when harvested.

 

" We urge the Biosafety Committee to call for immediate action over the

spread of illegal GE rice, " Ma said. " Immediate recall actions are

needed if we are to prevent consumers from exposure to risks of

untested GE

rice. There are strong warning signs that this GE Bt rice could cause

allergenic reactions. " (2)

 

Greenpeace also calls on the Biosafety Committee to increase

transparency and public participation. " The proposed commercial

release of GE

rice is a decision that will affect every single person in China – as

well

as future generations, " Ma said. " It is far too important a decision to

be left to a small group of scientists with vested interests in the

technology who have taken the issue into their own hands. "

 

Notes to Editor

 

(1) In April a Greenpeace research team discovered unapproved GE rice

being sold and grown illegally in Hubei province. An international

laboratory in Germany found 19 samples tested positive as GE Bt rice –

which

is genetically engineered to produce an inbuilt pesticide.

 

(2) Moreno-Fierros, L., García, N., Gutiérrez, R., López-Revilla, R. &

Vázquez-Padrón, R.I.2000. Intranasal, rectal and intraperitoneal

immunization with protoxin Cry1Ac from Bacillus thuringiensis induces

compartmentalized serum, intestinal, vaginal and pulmonary immune

responses in

Balb/c mice. Microbes and Infectection 2: 885-890 and references

therein.

 

Contact information

 

Steven Ma, GE Campaigner, Greenpeace China Tel: +86 20 84114603 Ext.

807 Email: ma.tianjie;

Natalia Truchi, Media Officer, Greenpeace China Mobile: +86 139

10098563

 

 

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