GMW: 4 pharm crop trials trashed in France

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GMW: 4 pharm crop trials trashed in France

" GM WATCH " <info

Tue, 30 Aug 2005 14:46:53 +0100

 

 

 

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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An investigation ought to be underway into the persons responsible for

approving these big open field pharm trials in maize (corn) - a food

and feed crop grown incredibly widely in France.

 

Growing such crops in the open is a truly criminal act.

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French officials condemn the destruction of genetically modified plants

Reuters, 30 August 2005

Translated by Tina Hooker, Checkbiotech

http://www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseaction=news & doc_id=11110 & start=1 & \

control=202 & page_start=1 & page_nr=101 & pg=1

 

PARIS - Four French ministers condemned the recent destruction of

fields used for experiments with genetically modified plants in Tarn and

Puy-de-Dme with the greatest determination.

 

" These vandalistic actions that go against the law and public interest

impair years of research in the biomedical field for the possible

treatment of mucoviscidosis and certain cancers, " according to a joint

release from the ministers of agriculture, health, ecology and research.

 

" Experiments in open fields is the only way to produce sufficient

amounts of active substance for the preliminary research of new medical

treatments, " the French ministers added. Dominique Busserau, Xavier

Bertrand, Nelly Olin and Francois Goulard also reaffirmed their

support for

the researchers and farmers who have incurred substantial losses from

this vandalism.

 

They underscored that a criminal case had been opened and that an

investigation is under way to identify the persons responsible for these

acts and to bring them to justice.

 

A two-hectare field of genetically-manipulated corn used for

experiments and research, situated in the community of Blan, South of

Tarn, was

destroyed by people whose identities have yet to be determined.

 

In addition, in the Puy-de-D™me in the communities of Neschers, Issoire

and Broc, three more lots of genetically modified corn, which were

being cultivated for medical research, were all destroyed within 24 hours

of each other.

 

 

 

 

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