25
July 2008 - Austria — Austria banned the
import of the highly dangerous genetically
engineered maize MON 863 today. The maize
(corn) is produced by United States agro-chemical
giant Monsanto.
The announcement was
made by Minister of Health and Family, Dr.
Andrea Kdolsky, on health safety grounds.
MON 863 is genetically
engineered to produce a toxin against the
cornborer, an insect that can cause damage
in maize. Tests carried out on rats fed
with MON 863 maize revealed they suffered
liver and kidney damage. In 2005, we passed
evidence of these tests to a team of experts
headed by Professor Gilles Eric Séralini,
a French governmental advisor on genetic
engineering (GE), for independent evaluation.
The study found “it cannot be concluded
that GE corn MON863 is a safe product”.
The maize has been controversial
since 2004, when French newspaper Le Monde
reported rats fed with MON863 maize showed
changes in the composition of their blood
and possible damage to internal organs.
In spite of the scientific
evidence, in January 2006, the European
Commission allowed the maize to be imported
into the European market for human and animal
consumption. It is also authorised for human
consumption in Australia, Canada, China,
Japan, Korea, Mexico, Philippines, Taiwan
and the US. MON863 is mainly grown in the
US and Canada.
“The Austrian import
ban sends a strong signal to the EU Commissioners,
to EU member states and other governments
around the world, that Monsanto’s MON 863
maize is a risk to human health and needs
to be withdrawn from all markets as soon
as possible. Governments must put the safety
of their citizens above the commercial interests
of companies such as Monsanto,” Geert Ritsema,
Greenpeace International GE campaign coordinator
said.
In addition to banning
imports of MON 863, Austria has already
banned growing Monsanto’s GE maize MON 810,
as have France, Hungary, Italy, Greece and
Poland over safety concerns. Scientific
studies showed MON 810 is harmful to wildlife,
soil and human health. Its inbuilt toxin,
which is also designed to kill the cornborer,
seeps into soil harming animals critical
to soil health, such as earthworms, and
other wildlife including butterflies, ants
and spiders. MON810 – the only GM crop currently
grown in the EU – is currently due for re-authorisation
under EU rules.
