Tuesday 13th April 1999
PRESS RELEASE

AgrEvo/PGS follow Monsanto in 
targeting genetics campaigners with an 
injunction

On Thursday 15th April at a hearing of the High Court in 
London[1], AgrEvo UK Limited and Plant Genetic Systems N.V, 
will ask for an injunction against ‘members’ of  genetiX snowball, 
including six named persons[2].  The proposed injunction will 
restrain the defendants from trespassing on AgrEvo/PGS land or 
premises, uprooting plants at AgrEvo/PGS release sites for 
genetically modified (GM) plants or procuring/ encouraging/ 
instructing/ inciting/ inducing or conspiring with others to do the 
same. Monsanto PLC already has injunctions against genetiX 
snowball; a hearing on April 19th 1999 could make them 
permanent.

An affidavit from AgrEvo/PGS reveals that the application for the 
injunction was prompted by genetiX snowball’s day of action on 
Saturday 17th April 1999 called ‘Silent Spring - An action to make our 
Land, our food and our future free from genetically modified crops’. 
Letters have been sent by genetiX snowball to all farmers hosting GM 
release sites including those for AgrEvo/ PGS. These letters inform, 
reassure and invite farmers to take part in Silent Spring. GenetiX 
snowball actions are nonviolent, open and accountable. GM plants are 
uprooted at release sites and bagged up for disposal by the Environment 
Agency as a biohazard. 

The six defendants named on the AgrEvo injunction application are the 
same as those on the Monsanto injunctions obtained in 1998. The 
defendants are being ‘sued on their own behalf and on behalf of all 
members of genetiX snowball’. This means that should someone 
breach the proposed injunction who is deemed to be a member of 
genetiX snowball then the named defendants will also be subject to 
prosecution for the ‘members’ action 

The AgrEvo/PGS affidavit describes the history of genetiX snowball in 
some detail including ‘genetiX harvest’ where over forty people 
demonstrated on land at their headquarters at East Winch Hall, Kings 
Lynn in Norfolk on September 20th 1998.  The affidavit and exhibits 
portray genetiX snowball as being ‘operated over the internet and by 
means of electronic mail’. Exhibits include parts of the genetiX 
snowball web site and sites operated by many other organisations 
including such as the Department of the Environment Transport and the 
Regions.

AgrEvo/PGS will also ask the court to order that the defendants provide 
them with a list of the ‘members ‘of genetix snowball. AgrEvo/PGS 
define a member of genetic snowball as: a person on any mailing list, 
including electronic mailing lists kept for the purpose of sending or 
transmitting information relating to genetiX snowball; and the 
defendants or anyone they know or have reason to believe will take part 
in Silent Spring. Although not stated, it is assumed that AgrEvo/PGS 
would then serve injunctions on these people.

Hammond Suddards,solicitors act for AgrEvo/PGS (a wholly owned 
subsidiaries of Hoechst Schering AgrEvo GmbH). The defendants will 
not be represented in court but have sent a letter to Hammond Suddards 
for presentation to the Judge explaining that genetiX snowball is not a 
membership organisation and therefore it does not have a list of 
members.

CONTACT: Andrew Wood Tel: 0973 953 446, 
page: 07654 247 502

Editors Notes

[1] A court summons was issued on 9th April 1999, case number 1999 
A. No.300. The hearing will take place on Thursday 15th April, not 
before 10.30 a.m. at the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London 
WC2A 2LL. A hearing of two hours has been requested.

[2]The six name defendants are: Jo Hamilton, Rowan Tilly, Kathryn 
Tulip, Melanie Jarman, Zoe Elford and Andrew Wood.
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