OP Alerts

March 31, 2005 Syngenta: Incompetent science covered by public relations smokescreen

Syngenta US attempted to deliberately mislead the public with their admission of GE maize (Bt10) contamination and that the Bt10 contained an antibiotic resistance marker gene. This illegal form of GE Maize has been accidentally selling and exporting for the last four years worldwide.

Bt10 contains an antibiotic resistance marker gene that provides resistance to ampicillin. Ampicillin is an important antibiotic widely used to treat human and animal infections.

The US authorities have refused to say which countries may have imported the illegal seeds as food or for planting. They have however fined the company $375,000; a mere slap on the wrist to a company which yields $7.25 billion in sales and has a net income of $762 Million.

Currently there is no system to effectively recall a GE food like this.

Background Info:

The same company acted less than honestly over a contamination incident developing the so-called "Golden Rice".

The so-called "Golden Rice" is genetically engineered (GE) to produce pro-Vitamin A but is technically insufficient to solve the problem of vitamin A deficiency. Despite this, it is promoted as a cure for dietary Vitamin A Deficiency, which affects over 250 million people around the world. In fact, Golden Rice is distracting attention and funding away from better and more sustainable solutions that already exist.

 

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/press/releases/syngenta-incompetent-science

 

Canadian Response:

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Information Bulletin
Unapproved Release of Experimental Corn Probed
March 24, 2005

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada are investigating the inadvertent release of genetically engineered, experimental corn planted in Ontario and Quebec.

Bt10 corn, developed by U.S. based Syngenta Seeds Inc., was planted on a limited number of farms in Ontario and Quebec (close to 35 hectares). The corn was being used for seed test and agronomic trials at the time and was not approved for planting, food or feed use.

The CFIA and Health Canada have taken immediate action to investigate this incident. Health Canada has conducted a preliminary health risk assessment and, based on the information available, has determined that Bt10 corn is unlikely to pose a risk to human health. Based on current information, CFIA scientists have also determined that the corn is unlikely to pose a health risk to livestock or to the environment.

Syngenta recently informed the CFIA of the unapproved plantings of the corn which resists the European Corn Borer, a destructive insect. CFIA officials are working closely with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials during the investigation. Companies seeking approval for genetically engineered seed in Canada must submit an application for approval, prior to any release.

The Bt10 experimental corn line was developed using the same gene construct as Bt11 corn, a genetically engineered corn variety that was approved for full food, feed and environmental release by Canadian regulatory authorities in 1996 and U.S. regulatory authorities in 1995.

Syngenta has taken measures to quarantine and destroy affected seed and halted any further plantings involving the Bt10 corn variety. Once its investigation is complete, the CFIA will determine if any enforcement action is necessary.

For additional information:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Media Relations:
(613) 228-6682
Health Canada - Media Relations:
(613) 941-8189

 

 

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