EXCERPT: Romanian Government officials, reacting to Greenpeace's findings, announced that the cultivation of GE crops should be reduced in 2006 and phased out completely by 2007, when it is due to join the EU. However, Monsanto filing an application for the whole of Europe now would effectively prevent Romania ridding itself of GE crops and GE contamination.
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Monsanto's latest attempts to contaminate EU with GE Soya revealed
January, 11 - 2:47 PM
http://www.dominicantoday.com/app/article.aspx?id=9215

Berlin.– Greenpeace today, joined by a former manager of Monsanto and Limagrain in Romania, Mr Dragos Dima, at a press conference at the International Green Week in Berlin exposed how Monsanto will contaminate EU agriculture with genetically engineered (GE) Soya.

U.S. biotech giant made an application in December 2005 to the European Union to grow its genetically engineered (GE) 'Roundup Ready' soybeans across the whole of Europe once its current license – permitting the beans' import but not cultivation – expires in 2006.

"Ten years after the introduction of Monsanto's GE Soya into the environment and our food, we have collected enough data from around the world to be able to say that this product should have never been approved in the first place. Recent Greenpeace research in Romania has exposed the fact that since the company has introduced GE Soya; things have gone totally out of control. European member states should avoid Romania's example, protect European agriculture and oppose Monsanto's application," says Susanne Fromwald from Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe.

A new Greenpeace report reveals that the GE Soya crop in Romania covers more hectares than are officially registered. Due to illegal cultivation and uncontrollable contamination, conventional and organic farming is now impossible in many regions.

"Transgenic seeds are a poisoned promise. Romania did not have any scientific and public debate prior to the commercial introduction. Neither the authorities, nor the companies applied the precautionary principle in assessing the impact of these crops in agriculture. Year after year, the acreage of the herbicide resistant soybeans increased uncontrollably," stated Mr Dima, who left Monsanto in 1999, when the GE soybeans were first introduced in Romania.

Romanian Government officials, reacting to Greenpeace's findings, announced that the cultivation of GE crops should be reduced in 2006 and phased out completely by 2007, when it is due to join the EU. However, Monsanto filing an application for the whole of Europe now would effectively prevent Romania ridding itself of GE crops and GE contamination.

Experience in Argentina and the United States has showed the cultivation of Monsanto's GE soybeans contaminates conventional and organic agriculture. Furthermore, it has been reported that the cultivation of these crops often leads to the increased use of pesticides.

Increasing rain forest destruction, especially in Argentina, is also closely related to the expansion of GE soy planting. Recent research also shows irregularities of the introduced genetic construct, which could cause unintended effects in these crops. Some alarming health signals were reported after feeding trials with mice.

Greenpeace opposes the release of GE Soya into the environment and the food chain and is asking the European member states to reject Monsanto's application.

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