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Free Zone for Genetically Modified Maize? |
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By Stephen Leahy*
The
case of Bt10 maize, an unapproved genetically modified variety that
was grown in the United States and sold in the European Union without
anyone realizing it, demonstrates the weakness of official regulatory
systems.
BROOKLIN, Canada - The case of a genetically
engineered variety of maize that escaped detection by U.S. and European
Union authorities for four years illustrates weaknesses in the safety
and regulatory systems on both sides of the Atlantic, say critics.
Syngenta AG, the Swiss agrochemical and seed company at the center
of the controversy, has been fined 375,000 dollars by the U.S. Department
of Agriculture for selling Bt10, an unapproved genetically engineered
maize seed, to U.S. farmers from 2001 to 2004.
Syngenta's transgenic maize contains a gene from the soil bacterium
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) which acts as a pesticide to control
a common insect called the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis).
The Bt11 variety has had approval from the United States and other
countries for several years, but Syngenta produced and mistakenly
sold its Bt10 variety as if it were Bt11.
The most worrying difference is that Bt10 also contains a gene that
creates resistance to the antibiotic ampicillin, which is widely
used to treat bacterial infections.
"U.S. regulators don't test the seeds farmers plant. They're at
the mercy of companies to report any mistakes themselves," Joe Mendelson,
of the Washington-based non-governmental Center for Food Safety
(CFS), told Tierramérica.
"No one would have known about this without Syngenta coming forward,"
he said.
Some of the estimated 150,000 tons of maize grown with the illegal
seed was also exported to the European Union, where it is not approved
for use in food or human or animal consumption.
The EU announced on Apr. 11 that it is considering suspending U.S.
imports of maize gluten animal feed, worth around 450 million dollars
a year.
Syngenta acknowledges that small amounts of Bt10 maize may have
been exported to other countries as well. According to the New York
Times, the seed was also sold to farmers in Canada and Argentina.
"It's a labeling mix-up," a Syngenta spokesperson told Tierramérica.
"There are no health or safety issues and the ampicillin gene is
inactive in the plant."
Several varieties of genetically modified (GM) maize grown in the
United States, Canada and elsewhere have similar antibiotic resistance
markers. However, these do not have the approval of European regulators.
Syngenta learned of the mix-up late last year after it acquired
a new technology for batch testing the transgenic varieties it produces.
The company conducted an internal investigation and informed U.S.
regulators -- USDA and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) -- in mid December. The issue became public when Nature, the
prestigious science publication, published a story Mar. 22.
Syngenta says it was not up to them to inform the public while regulators
were conducting their investigation. The USDA/EPA evaluation concluded
''there are no human or animal health or environmental concerns
with Bt corn," according to Syngenta.
Officials at the USDA did not respond to requests for an interview.
Food safety activist Mendelson said Syngenta claims Bt10 is safe
''even though it's never been regulated or thoroughly tested", says
Mendelson.
But Val Giddings, vice-president for food and agriculture at the
Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), in Washington D.C., says
those allegations don't stand up to scrutiny.
"We're approaching the 500 billionth acre of crops improved by biotechnology
being grown around the world over the past decade… and we've not
had a single solitary experience of damage to the environment or
to human or animal health," Giddings said in a Tierramérica interview.
"The U.S. regulatory agencies have paved the way for the entire
world's regulatory agencies,'' he said, though he admits the regulators
do not test seeds to see if they are approved varieties.
"No one looks into the bags of seeds to see if what's inside is
the same as what's on the label."
To be able to precisely identify transgenic varieties would require
sophisticated genetic testing equipment that is only found in a
few laboratories.
Companies have their own quality controls and there are penalties
if problems are found, Giddings says.
In addition to the 375,000 dollar fine for its mistake, Syngenta
will have to sponsor a seminar on compliance training. The EPA's
investigation is not yet complete and it may levy additional sanctions.
* Stephen Leahy is a Tierramérica contributor.
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