An American court bans genetically modified alfalfa - How will Ottawa react?

    MONTREAL, May 4 /CNW Telbec/ - Multinational biotech companies yesterday
were dealt a severe blow, suffering a major legal setback when a California
judge reconfirmed his earlier ruling that the U.S. government failed to follow
its own rules for assessing genetically modified organisms (GMOs), in
particular Monsanto's Roundup Ready genetically modified (GM) alfalfa.
Yesterday's decision makes the previously temporary ban permanent. Monsanto's
GM alfalfa can no longer be sold in the United States and alfalfa that is
already in the ground will be tightly controlled to prevent genetic
contamination.
    In a harsh decision, Judge Charles Breyer reaffirmed that the GM seed can
harm the environment and contaminate naturally planted alfalfa. He also stated
that the U.S. Department of Agriculture failed to discharge its
responsibilities by ignoring the fact that there were doubts surrounding the
likelihood of contamination by the GM seed. The ruling requires companies to
reveal the locations of all their Monsanto Roundup Ready GM alfalfa fields in
the U.S. within 30 days. Judge Breyer has also asked the companies to make the
information public as soon as possible to enable conventional and GM alfalfa
producers to determine whether their crops have been contaminated. In
pronouncing the ban, Judge Breyer noted that contamination of natural alfalfa
by its GM counterpart has already occurred, stating, "Such contamination is
irreparable environmental harm. The contamination cannot be undone."
    GM alfalfa by Monsanto has been approved for use in Canada since
September 7, 2004. According to Eric Darier, who heads the anti-GMO campaign
for Greenpeace, "It was reviewed using criteria similar to those used in the
U.S., which even the Royal Society of Canada considered to lack scientific
rigour in 2001. We have every right to doubt the seriousness of the GMO
assessments conducted by Ottawa."
    In a report to the government, the Royal Society of Canada-the highest
independent scientific body in the country-recommended 58 precautionary
measures regarding GMOs, but to no avail. Among other things, the 14-member
expert panel criticized the lack of transparency in GMO assessments. Indeed,
practically all the data supplied by the companies-the same ones that are
trying to obtain GMO approval-are confidential and not available for
scientific scrutiny.
    "It took a judge in the United States to confirm the worst fears voiced
by the Royal Society in 2001," stated Mr. Darier. "Greenpeace demands that the
Canadian government withdraw its approval of this GM variety of alfalfa
immediately and impose the same measures ordered by the judge in California.
The government must then take real action to implement the Royal Society's 58
recommendations. In the meantime, it must suspend all GMO approvals in
Canada."
    Greenpeace is warning Ottawa of the impact that its laisser-faire
attitude could have on international markets. "If the government does not act
immediately, Canada is in danger of becoming THE dumping ground for GM alfalfa
seeds," said Mr. Darier.

For further information: Eric Darier, Greenpeace GMO campaign head,
(514) 605-6497; Jocelyn Desjardins, Communications - Public Relations, (514)
212-5749, http://blogues.greenpeace.ca/