Greenpeace: New GMO report shows EU safety checks are failing

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[ogm_pt] Fw: Greenpeace: New GMO report shows EU safety checks are failing[EN/FR]

 

 

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from: Katharine Mill [Katharine.Mill] 20 October 2005 00:05kmillSubject: Greenpeace: New GMO report shows EU safety checks are failing [EN/FR]

 

EN/FR [version francaise en-dessous]

 

GREENPEACE EUROPEAN UNIT

 

20 OCTOBER 2005

 

New GMO report shows EU safety checks are failing

 

BRUSSELS An independent analysis of rat feeding trials of a Monsanto genetically modified (GM) maize has highlighted serious errors in the study, Greenpeace revealed today [1]. EU agriculture ministers will vote on the maize - MON863 - for food use next Monday, 24 October in Luxembourg.

 

The analysis is a preliminary report by two French scientists of the 90-day rat study using MON863 maize [2]. In it, they strongly criticise the method that was used in the company's own study to assess the apparent negative impacts on the health of the group of rats fed the modified maize, and the way that anomalous findings were dismissed [3].

 

"It appears that Monsanto was doing the equivalent of looking at bacteria through binoculars instead of a microscope," said Eric Gall of Greenpeace. "What is especially worrying is what this reveals about the public authorities' capacity to assess GMO test data. Both the German government and the European Food Safety Authority gave a green light to this maize based on what turns out to be an extremely shoddy study. This undermines all the assurances the EU seeks to provide about the safety of GMOs."

 

The report's authors regret that the MON863 feeding study was carried out for just 90 days, compared to the standard two years for pesticides (MON863 has been gene-altered to produce an insecticidal toxin and kill pests); and that the rats' blood and urine tests were analysed using the wrong statistical model for the small test group concerned. They describe as 'astonishing' the fact that Monsanto statisticians did not highlight the consistent body-weight differences between the rats fed MON863 and those fed conventional maize, or study the anomaly with a comprehensive statistical tool. They advise, in conclusion, that: "It is essential for Monsanto's entire statistical analysis to be repeated before any decision about market access is taken."

 

"In the light of these findings, it is clear that we need clearer and stricter rules for the scientific evaluation of GMO applications in Europe, and a full review of the work of the European Food Safety's Authority's GMO panel," said Gall. "In the meantime, EU governments should block any new GMO authorisation."

 

In late September, it was reported that the French government has recently sought support from other EU member states to further restrict public access to documents related to the risk assessment of GMOs. Greenpeace argues that the case of MON 863 proves that the opposite is required: full publication of all data to enable thorough, independent scrutiny of the findings.

 

In a separate development, Greenpeace called on governments to support the Greek ban on the cultivation of another GM maize, also on the agenda of the Agriculture Council on Monday.

 

CONTACT Eric Gall, EU policy adviser on GMOs, Greenpeace European Unit, tel +32 (0)496 161 582

 

Christoph Then, Greenpeace International GMO campaigner, tel. +49 171 878 0832

 

Katharine Mill, media officer, Greenpeace European Unit, tel +32 (0)2274 1903, +32 (0)496 156 229

 

NOTES TO EDITOR

1. A copy of the analysis is available at http://eu.greenpeace.org/downloads/gmo/MON863Seralini1.pdf.

2. The full data from the rat feeding trials was only made public in June 2005 after a German court ruled that Monsanto could not keep it secret. The new analysis was conducted by Dr Dominique Cellier, Assistant Professor in statistics applied to Biology, University of Rouen, and Professor Gilles-Eric Séralini, Président du Conseil Scientifique du CRII GEN, Laboratoire de Biochimie - IBFA, University of Caen.

3. A full analysis of the health impacts is being carried out and the results will be presented in due course.