>Errors-To: <rwolfson@concentric.net>
>X-Sender: rwolfson@pop3.concentric.net
>Date: Sat, 28 Mar 1998 15:14:37 -0500
>
>Thanks to "Allsorts (also rts)" <allsorts@gn.apc.org> for posting this misc
>GE News
>
>
>1) Dutch grain group cautious on new genetic maize by Eric Onstad
>AMSTERDAM, March 24 (Reuters) -
> A Dutch grain organisation is working with U.S. seed companies and
>refiners to keep varieties of genetically modified maize not yet approved
>in Europe out of processing and export channels as a precautionary measure
>for this season.
>... Last year, approval of genetically-engineered grains by the EU lagged
>that by U.S.
> authorities, sparking confusion.
> "The seed companies have informed the farmers in the U.S. that the
>approval process in Europe will take some more time...they are aware that
>if it has not been approved they have to use it domestically for feed," van
>den Broek said.
>
> ======#======
>2) Monsanto To Pay Mislabeling Fine
>March 25, 1998
>
>ST. LOUIS - (Associated Press via NewsEdge Corporation) : Monsanto Co. has
>agreed to pay a $225,000 penalty for mislabeling some Roundup herbicide
>products, the Environmental Protection Agency said today.
>
>The EPA said it was the largest settlement ever paid for violation of the
>Worker Protection Standards of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and
>Rodenticide Act.
>
>Monsanto distributed mislabeled Roundup containers on at least 75
>occasions, the EPA said. The label for the herbicide restricts entry into a
>treated area for 12 hours. Monsanto notified the EPA that it had
>distributed the herbicide with labels that incorrectly stated a restricted
>entry interval of four hours.
>
>The Worker Protection Standard is designed to reduce risks of illness or
>injury from worker pesticide exposure [Copyright 1998, Associated Press]
>=====================
>
>Thanks to Florianne Koechlin at <nopatents@igc.org> for the following summary
>
>3) Nature as a laboratory
>Florianne Koechlin
>A flood of new reports confirms it: The genetic engineerers do not have
>their transgenic plants under control.
>
>- Researchers in Niedersachsen, Germany, have proved that pollen from
>genetically engineered rape also pollinates conventional rape to a large
>extent. At a distance of 6 meters between a transgenic and a conventional
>field, up to 28 per cent of the conventional rape was pollinated with
>engineered rape.
>
>- French researchers demonstrated that pollen from transgenic rape also
>crosses with related wild plants (eg wild radish) und is sometimes
>transmitted to the next generations.
>
>- Laboratory tests of the research institute Reckenholz in Switzerland have
>shown that the genetic engineered Bt-corn from Novartis not only kills the
>European corn borer but also the larva of the Florfliege, a very important
>beneficial insect.
>
>- Recent studies from Canada prove, that new kinds of virus develop because
>of virus-resistant plants. Alien virus combine with genetic sequences of
>engineered plants, thus hybrids develop with new pathogenic qualities.
>
>- Pests develop a resistance to Bt-toxins coming from engineered plants
>(such as the Bt-corn from Novartis) in a much shorter period of time than
>expected. US-researchers found a gene in pest insects that was resistant to
>4 different Bt-toxins. This gene was found in 21 per cent of the pests -
>ten times as much as had been predicted for the worst case
>
>. - British researchers have found out that their transgenic potatoes have
>accidentally decimated the ladybirds. The potatoes contained a gene from
>snowdrops, which had the instruction for the production of a poison against
>greenflies. The researchers fed the poisoned greenflies to the beneficial
>ladybirds: The females laid up to 30 per cent less eggs than usual and they
>died after only half of their normal life expectancy.
>
>- Deformed cotton capsules falling off prematurely trouble the farmers in
>Mississipi, USA. The farmers had grown transgenic cotton from the
>US-company Monsanto. This transgenic cotton is resistant to the herbicide
>Roundup. About 20 per cent of the engineered cotton did not work at all.
>The farmers have instituted proceedings at the federal court of
>arbitration, which is responsible for seed matters.
>
>==============
>4)Panel may challenge planned U.S. organic rules
> By Julie Vorman
> WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Agriculture Department's plan to
>define organic food may be challenged in court for ignoring the
>recommendations of an organic-industry panel created by Congress, a panel
>member said Monday.
> The USDA's proposed organic rules, issued last December,
>unleashed a tidal wave of criticism from organic farmers and consumers for
>allowing the use of genetically modified seeds, human sewage sludge as
>fertilizer and irradiation.
> To date, more than 23,000 individuals and organizations have
>commented on the proposed rules, with most comments being critical.
>=======================
>
>
>_________________________________________________________
>Richard Wolfson, PhD
>Consumer Right to Know Campaign,
>for Mandatory Labelling and Long-term
>Testing of all Genetically Engineered Foods,
>500 Wilbrod Street
>Ottawa, ON Canada K1N 6N2
>tel. 613-565-8517 fax. 613-565-1596
>email: rwolfson@concentric.net
>
>Our website, http://www.natural-law.ca/genetic/geindex.html
>contains more information on genetic engineering as well as
>previous genetic engineering news items
>Subscription fee to genetic engineering news is $35 for 12 months
>See website for details.
>__________________________________________________________
>__________________________________________________________
>
Please contact Dr. Wolfosn direct with any questions about the above.
--Dan in Sunny Puerto Rico--
--dan.worley@icepr.com--
--dan.worley@mindless.com--
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