GMW: MONSANTO LOSES APPEAL - ordered to make secret study public

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GMW: MONSANTO LOSES APPEAL - ordered to make secret study public

" GM WATCH " <info

Tue, 21 Jun 2005 19:53:52 +0100

 

 

 

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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EXCERPT: The German state endorsed Greenpeace requests to access the

document under EU law, but Monsanto introduced a case against Germany to

prevent the disclosure. Today's decision overrules the company's appeal

against the decision in this case, originally delivered on 10 June

2005.

 

Two renowned toxicology experts - Gilles-Eric Séralini and Arpad

Pusztai - will present their analysis of the study at a Greenpeace press

conference in Berlin on Wednesday.

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Monsanto ordered to make secret study public

http://eu.greenpeace.org/issues/news.html#050620_a

 

Brussels, 20 June 2005

 

A German law court (1) today ordered biotechnology firm Monsanto to

disclose a suppressed report on rat feeding trials related to the

company's genetically modified maize MON863. The decision follows a

campaign by

Greenpeace to gain access to the document under EU law. EU environment

ministers will vote on the maize's import authorisation this Friday, 24

June.

 

" This ruling is a victory for transparency over company secrecy

regarding the impacts of genetically modified organisms. EU member states

should not be pushed into approving this maize before independent

scientists have had a chance to examine the findings, " said Eric Gall,

Greenpeace European Unit GMO policy adviser.

 

Monsanto has consistently tried to prevent the publication of the

1,000-page document, after concerns were raised regarding the health

impact

on rats of MON863.

 

The German state endorsed Greenpeace requests to access the document

under EU law, but Monsanto introduced a case against Germany to prevent

the disclosure. Today's decision overrules the company's appeal against

the decision in this case, originally delivered on 10 June 2005.

 

Two renowned toxicology experts - Gilles-Eric Séralini and Arpad

Pusztai - will present their analysis of the study at a Greenpeace press

conference in Berlin on Wednesday.

 

On Friday, environment Ministers will vote not only on MON863 but also

on so-called national bans imposed by five member states against the

use and cultivation of GMOs.

 

Contact:

Eric Gall, Greenpeace European Unit GMO policy adviser, tel +32 (0)496

161 582

Christoph Then, Greenpeace International GMO campaigner (in Germany),

tel +49 171 878 0832

Katharine Mill, Greenpeace European Unit media officer, tel +32 (0)496

156 229

 

Notes:

1. Oberverwaltungsgericht Münster

 

 

 

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