News
2013-01-03 | permalink
Cautious welcome for GMO Freeze in Europe
NGOs have given a cautious welcome to the announcement that the European Commission has entered a “period of reflection” with regard to GMO crops and products. The “freeze” announcement, made by Food Safety Director Eric Poudelet of DG-SANCO at a meeting of the EU Petitions Committee on 3rd December, arises out of the intense public debate within Europe on the apparent chronic toxicity of GM food and Roundup residues in the food chain. Mr Pouldelet suggested that he and his colleagues had to be sensitive to public concerns and also mindful of the scientific debate arising from the publication of a recent paper by Prof Gilles-Eric Seralini and colleagues
GM Free Cymru, UK: Cautious welcome for GMO Freeze in Europe2012-12-20 | permalink
Dutch Parliament moves against glyphosate, citing evidence in Earth Open Source report
In September 2011 a Green Member of the Dutch Parliament, Rik Grashoff, put forward a Parliamentary motion proposing a ban on the “commercial use” of Roundup outside agriculture. In the motion, Grashoff cited evidence presented in Earth Open Source’s report, “Roundup and birth defects: Is the public being kept in the dark?“. [...] Grashoff’s proposal has been watered down and has been made part of the Dutch national pesticide action plan which says they want to stop local communities from using it on pavements and streets by 2018. But the proposed ban on sales to non-professional users was dropped.
2012-12-20 | permalink
British GM wheat trials to go ahead next year
Scientists will go ahead with plans to plant genetically modified crops in the UK next year, despite vandalism during the summer. The Rothamsted Research institute are planning to plant GM wheat in fields in Hertfordshire. Protests were held at the site last year and an intruder was charged with criminal damage after allegedly scaling the fence and sprinkling natural wheat. But a spokesman for the institute insisted the experiment will continue. The scientists are trying to create the world’s first GM strain to repel insects rather than killing them.
2012-12-20 | permalink
Dow AgroSciences announces triple herbicide-resistant GE soybean for 2015
Dow AgroSciences LLC, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, and M.S. Technologies LLC have unveiled Enlist E3™ soybeans as the brand name for the industry’s first-ever, three-gene herbicide tolerant soybean. This advanced technology was submitted for U.S. regulatory approval in August 2011 and is anticipated to be launched in 2015 pending U.S. and import country approvals. [...] These genes provide tolerance to Dow AgroSciences’ new 2,4-D product, glyphosate, and glufosinate. Enlist E3 soybeans will be another product offering in the Enlist™ Weed Control System.
2012-12-19 | permalink
Indian campaign against GM food products takes root
Even as MNCs are trying to woo various state governments to allow them sell genetically modified food products and Punjab government also showing keen interest in this regard, volunteers of various organizations and public forums and members of different communities like students, lawyers, engineers and doctors came together on a common platform here on Sunday to raise their voice against GM foods. Starting their campaign by organizing a workshop at Panjab University on Sunday to highlight the ill effects of GM foods, the activists have targeted US-based food products firm Monsanto with a campaign named ”Monsanto - A threat to health, environment and human rights.”
