GMW: Canadian government urged to stop GM contamination in Japan

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GMW: Canadian government urged to stop GM contamination in Japan

" GM WATCH " <info

Wed, 25 May 2005 10:50:18 +0100

 

 

 

 

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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'The contamination caused by [Canadian] GE canola imports to Japan is a

good example of why strict liability laws are needed for GMOs. The

question is; who pays for the damage caused when genetically engineered

seeds contaminate our food and environment?' - Japanese campaigner, Akiko

Frid in Montreal

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Canadian government urged to stop genetically engineered (GE) Canola

contamination in Japan

http://www.prdirect.ca/en/view_release.aspx?TrafficID=2794

 

Tokyo/Japan, May 24 /PR Direct/ - Greenpeace and Japanese consumer,

environmental and farmer organizations today appealed to the Canadian

government to stop contamination of food products and the environment by

exporting only non-GE canola in future.

 

The Japan National Institute for Environmental Studies found GE canola

growing wild around five ports and investigations by citizens groups

found the GE canola growing wild around a further three ports. In all GE

canola has been found at eight of the 10 main ports importing Canadian

canola, It was growing wild beside rice fields, on riverbanks and on

grass verges as a result of seed spillages during transportation,

including for example on a transport route thirty kms away from the

Kashima

port.

 

The organizations delivered a strongly worded letter to the Canadian

Embassy in Tokyo, addressed to the Minister of the Environment and the

Canadian

Minister of Agriculture, informing them of the contamination.

 

Eighty percent of the two million tons of imported canola comes from

Canada, of which 80% is estimated to be genetically engineered. GE canola

seeds are

produced mainly by two chemical companies, Monsanto and Bayer, and are

genetically engineered so that they can survive increased doses of the

herbicides

glyphosate and glufosinate which these companies also sell. Canola

seeds are crushed to use as cooking oil and in the production of

margarine

and

mayonnaise, and also for use as animal feed and fertilizer.

 

Consumer groups are already concerned that GE canola oil is being used

as cooking oil and for other food production in Japan without any

consumer choice because they are not labelled as GE. Now the GE canola

has

also been found spreading wild in the environment adding new concerns.

In Chiba port, citizens reportedly filled a small truck with

Roundup-Ready GE canola that was growing wild.

 

This spillage of GE canola threatens to spread GE genes into the seeds

and food crops of related food plants growing in Japan such as cabbage,

Chinese

cabbage, daikon radish and turnip. It also threatens to create

genetically engineered 'super-weeds' which can lead to further use of

extra

toxic chemicals. Steve Shallhorn a Canadian working with Greenpeace in

Japan joined the delegation of NGOs in Tokyo: 'The Canadian Government

has

a responsibility to the people of Japan, who are a good customer of

Canada, to stop exporting this GE canola.'

 

To highlight the concerns of Japanese consumers about eating GE food

the representatives also took with them bottles of canola oil products in

which this GE canola is being used, unlabelled, as an example of the

type of product that Japanese consumers may choose to avoid buying if the

GE canola imports and contamination continue.

 

The NGOs delivered their message the day before the first working group

negotiation session on liability for damage caused by genetically

modified

organisms (GMOs) under the Biosafety Protocol, 25-27 May. Akiko Frid a

Japanese representative of Greenpeace will be in Montreal attending the

session and also the second full meeting of the Biosafety Protocol

starting a few days later on 30th May. Frid said: 'The contamination

caused

by GE canola imports to Japan is a good example of why strict liability

laws are needed for GMOs. The question is; who pays for the damage

caused when genetically engineered seeds contaminate our food and

environment?'

 

Greenpeace Canada took this opportunity to invite Environment Minister

Stephane Dion, to meet with them at the opening of the Biosafety

Protocol meetings on Monday the 30th of May and collect a specimen of

Canadian GE canola found growing in Japan.

 

For more information:

 

Eric Darier, Greenpeace GE Campaigner: Mobile: 514-605-6497

Steve Shallhorn, ED Greenpeace Japan: Office +81-3-5338-9800 mobile;

+81-80-5416-6507

Akiko Frid Campaigner Greenpeace (in Montreal): Mobile: +1-514-206-9152

Andrew Male, Greenpeace Communications: cell: 416-880-2757

 

Pictures of the NGO delegation at the Canadian Embassy and a copy of

their letter are available.

Briefing on GE canola contamination in Japan: www.greenpeace.or.jp

Biosafety Protocol information:

http://www.biodiv.org/doc/meeting.asp?mtg=BSWGLR-01

 

For: Greenpeace Canada

Stock Symbol:

Contact: Andrew Male, Communications Coordinator

Primary Phone: 416-880-2757

Secondary Phone: 416-597-8408

E-mail: andrew.male

Date issued: May 24, 2005

Time in: 15:27 e

 

- END PRESS RELEASE - 5/24/2005

 

 

 

 

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