Tuesday 16th February 1999 PRESS RELEASE Monsanto in the dock on Wednesday 17th February 1999. -Photo- opportunity On Wednesday 17th April 1999 at 9.45 a.m. genetiX snowball [1] will demonstrate its support for the prosecution of Monsanto at Caister magistrates court, Lincolnshire. The prosecution, the first of its kind, relates to Monsanto’s failure to follow statutory procedures for the release of genetically engineered (GE) oil seed rape at Joseph Nickerson’s Farms, Rothwell near Lincoln [2]. The criminal prosecution of Monsanto supports the claim that Monsanto will not come to court with ‘clean hands’ in its civil court proceedings against genetiX snowball[3]. Monsanto failed to ensure that the barrier which surrounded the GE trial site at Rothwell was of sufficient width. It was only two yards wide rather than the required six yards. As a result ACRE (Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment) ordered the entire crop to be destroyed, and any seed harvested over the next two years within a 50 yard radius of the site to be destroyed. Monsanto has been reported as intending to plead guilty. Monsanto face a fine of up to £20,000 and it’s Directors will receive criminal records. The management of the trial site was subcontracted to Perryfield’s Holdings, but Monsanto remained responsible for meeting the statutory requirements. The case has been brought by the Health and Safety Executive after it’s inspectors found the failure at the site. Environmental groups have long been concerned at the inadequate number of inspectors to police the large number of release sites. In 1997 fewer than one quarter of all sites were inspected to make sure the releases complied with proper safety precautions [4]. Oil seed rape can cross breed with three UK wild plants and other crop plants[5][6]. The barrier is supposed to ensure that the GE oil seed rape can’t cross pollinate other non GE plants in the area. But there is a question mark over whether the statutory maximum isolation distance for oil seed rape of 400 m [7] is sufficient. Research has shown that rape pollen can travel up to 2.5 km [8]. In the case of Monsanto’s GE oil seed rape, modified to be resistant to the herbicide glyphosate, there is concern that this herbicide resistance could be passed to other plants, creating ‘superweeds’. Once these genes are released into the environment there can be no recall. Martin Shaw said “Today’s prosecution is indicative of Monsanto’s long history of failing to act with due regard for public safety. The commercial release of gene crops has the potential for a huge environmental disaster. The fact that insurance companies are not prepared to cover the potential liabilities of such a disaster should be a wake up call to us all” CONTACT: Media liaison, on 17th APRIL 1999 ONLY: Martin Shaw 07930 529 024 ENDS Editors Notes [1] genetiX snowball is a member of the Genetic Engineering Alliance which is calling for a FIVE YEAR FREEZE on genetic engineering and patenting of food and farming. [2] The GMO public register records this release under ref: 96/R22/6. There is also another release at Nickerson’s Farms, by Plant Genetic Systems, under ref: 97/R15/15, also for GE oil seed rape [3] There will be a summary judgment hearing at the High Court in the week beginning April 19th 1999. The defendants will be seeking a full trial where the issues can be fully examined and experts brought to court. Also see release ‘First arrests in Britain for uprooting genetically engineered crops’ dated 6th July 1998 from genetiX snowball’s Media Liaison. [4] New Scientist, 4 April 1998 “Named and shamed” p.4 [5] Brown, J and A P Brown, 1996. “Gene transfer between canola (Brassica napus L. and B. campestris L.) and releated weed species.) Annals of Applied Biology Vol 129 pp 513 - 522 [6] Bartsch, D and M Pohl-Orf. 1996. “Ecology aspects of transgenic sugar beet: transfer and expression of herbicide resistance in hybrids with wild beets” Euphytica 91 pp 55-58 [7] ACRE Annual Report No. 4: 1996/97. DETR, March 1998. [8] Timmons, A M, E T O’Brien, Y M Charters, S J Dubbels, M J Wilkinson. 1995 “Assesing the risks of wind pollination from fields of GM Brassica napus. Ssp. Oleifera.” Euphytica S. pp 1-7 Picture Editors Notes About 30 people including many local residents and their councilors will gather outside Caster Magistrate Court at 9.45 a.m with banners reading ‘genetix snowball civil responsibility - Monsanto corporate irresponsibility’ and ‘Organic farming - food, health hope’ and ‘Monsanto - stealth, hype, lies’. genetiX snowball A campaign of nonviolent civil responsibility One World Centre, 6 Mount Street, Manchester M2 5NS Tel: 0161 834 0295 Fax: 0161 834 8187 Browse: http://www.gn.apc.org/pmhp/gs Press liaison: Andrew Wood 0973 953 446 or page 07654 247502