An American Court Bans Genetically Modified Alfalfa

[Guest guest]

Reposting

 

Further to: European Patent Office Revokes Monsanto´s Species Patent On GE

Soy Beans

http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/chris/2007/05/03/european_patent_office_revokes_\

monsantos_species_patent_on_ge_soy_beans.htm here is more good

news seems Canada is still to entrenched with the industry and will have to

be roped in shouting and kicking....

 

 

See: Terminator Corporations' Suicide Seeds

 

http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/chris/2006/02/27/terminator_corporations_suicide\

_seeds.htm

 

 

TAKE ACTION: Ban Terminator Seed Technology!

 

http://www.rightoncanada.ca/c.juIZLdMOJrE/b.2517563/k.8F11/Take_Action/siteapps/\

advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=juIZLdMOJrE & b=2517563 & aid=8111

 

 

Chris Gupta

http://tinyurl.com/yohp6j

--------------------

 

An American court bans genetically modified alfalfa - How will Ottawa react?

http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archive/May2007/04/c5427.html

 

MONTREAL, May 4 /CNW Telbec/ - Multinational biotech companies yesterday were

dealt a severe blow, suffering a major legal setback when a California judge

reconfirmed his earlier ruling that the U.S. government failed to follow its

own rules for assessing genetically modified organisms (GMOs), in particular

Monsanto's Roundup Ready genetically modified (GM) alfalfa.

 

Yesterday's decision makes the previously temporary ban permanent. Monsanto's

GM alfalfa can no longer be sold in the United States and alfalfa that is

already in the ground will be tightly controlled to prevent genetic

contamination.

 

In a harsh decision, Judge Charles Breyer reaffirmed that the GM seed can

harm the environment and contaminate naturally planted alfalfa. He also stated

that the U.S. Department of Agriculture failed to discharge its responsibilities

by ignoring the fact that there were doubts surrounding the likelihood of

contamination by the GM seed. The ruling requires companies to reveal the

locations of all their Monsanto Roundup Ready GM alfalfa fields in the U.S.

within 30

days. Judge Breyer has also asked the companies to make the information

public as soon as possible to enable conventional and GM alfalfa producers to

determine whether their crops have been contaminated. In pronouncing the ban,

Judge

Breyer noted that contamination of natural alfalfa by its GM counterpart has

already occurred, stating, " Such contamination is irreparable environmental

harm. The contamination cannot be undone. "

 

GM alfalfa by Monsanto has been approved for use in Canada since September 7,

2004. According to Eric Darier, who heads the anti-GMO campaign for

Greenpeace, " It was reviewed using criteria similar to those used in the U.S.,

which

even the Royal Society of Canada considered to lack scientificm rigour in 2001.

We have every right to doubt the seriousness of the GMO assessments conducted

by Ottawa. "

 

In a report to the government, the Royal Society of Canada-the highest

independent scientific body in the country-recommended 58 precautionary measures

regarding GMOs, but to no avail. Among other things, the 14-member expert panel

criticized the lack of transparency in GMO assessments. Indeed, practically all

the data supplied by the companies-the same ones that are trying to obtain

GMO approval-are confidential and not available for scientific scrutiny.

 

" It took a judge in the United States to confirm the worst fears voiced by

the Royal Society in 2001, " stated Mr. Darier. " Greenpeace demands that the

Canadian government withdraw its approval of this GM variety of alfalfa

immediately and impose the same measures ordered by the judge in California.

 

The government must then take real action to implement the Royal Society's 58

recommendations. In the meantime, it must suspend all GMO approvals in

Canada. "

 

Greenpeace is warning Ottawa of the impact that its laisser-fair attitude

could have on international markets. " If the government does not act

immediately,

Canada is in danger of becoming THE dumping ground for GM alfalfa seeds, "

said Mr. Darier.

 

For further information:

Eric Darier, Greenpeace GMO campaign head, (514) 605-6497;

Jocelyn Desjardins, Communications, (514) 212-5749;

http://blogues.greenpeace.ca/

 

 

 

 

To / :  chrisgupta

List information is at: http://tinyurl.com/2xohw

ARCHIVES: http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/chris/archives.htm

Share The Wealth: http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/chris/

Communication Agents: http://www.communicationagents.com/

Council Member: Friends of Freedom - http://www.friendsoffreedom.org