Ban trials until Bayer Cropscience pays for damages

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julie

Ban trials until Bayer Cropscience pays for damages

Tue, 1 Nov 2005 22:04:21 -0600

 

 

 

 

Press Release – for immediate release –

 

NETWORK OF CONCERNED FARMERS

 

Ban trials until Bayer Cropscience pays for damages

 

 

The Victorian DPI released details revealing that the GM contamination

of

the non-GM canola variety Grace was caused in Tasmania, not by

importation

of contaminated seed as thought. Non-GM seed was being bulked up for

resale at the same location that GM trials of Topas had been grown. The

Network of Concerned Farmers (NCF) is calling for a complete ban on all

trials grown by Bayer Cropscience until damages are paid.

 

" Bayer Cropscience must be made to pay all costs and losses caused by

their negligence, not rewarded by allowing contamination without

liability

redress. " said Geoffrey Carracher, Victorian NCF Spokesperson.

 

" GM contamination should not be a surprise, the risk was obvious. The

early OGTR reports show that Bayer Cropscience made little effort to

contain their product in these early self regulated trials. "

 

" Farmers should not be expected to pay for the testing and market

losses

caused by Bayer Cropscience's obvious negligence. "

 

The government has accepted a contamination in seed and produce but the

NCF claim that the tolerance levels set does not comply with ACCC law

or

market demand for GM-free or non-GM. Mr Carracher claims farmers are

still

required to sign contracts to guarantee there is little or no GM

contamination in their seed and stock feed despite field tests not

being

available to check. He also explained how industry participants are

drawing up contracts to exempt themselves from liability.

 

" All costs and liabilities are falling on the farmers that do not want

contamination, rather than the GM company that caused the problem. "

 

" GM contamination is a risk we are not prepared to take and we

shouldn't

be forced to take it without adequate legal redress. "

 

" Setting contamination levels is an easy way out for governments but

they

can't ignore unfair liability. Good governance involves fair

compensation

for allowing industry sabotage. "

 

Mr Carracher was the first farmer in Australia to identify his Grace

seed

was contaminated with Bayer Cropsciences GM crop. Further expensive

testing revealed that despite spraying with Triazine, the GM plants in

his

crop survived.

 

" No, I don't want contamination and I shouldn't be the one paying for

it. "

 

" Bayer Cropscience is allowed to grow large scale GM seed bulking

trials

for export to Canada with no concern of contamination of Australia's

crops. Bayers license should be withdrawn and these trials must be

stopped

until Bayer Cropscience pays for the damages their smaller trials have

already caused. "

 

Contact: Geoffrey Carracher 03 53866261

 

Or Julie Newman 08 98711562 or 0427 711644

 

Network of Concerned Farmers

 

www.non-gm-farmers.com