1.EPA Fines Syngenta $1.5 Million for Distributing Unregistered Genetically Engineered Pesticide
2.GE seed, crops eradicated in HB
EXTRACTS: Late in 2004, Syngenta disclosed to EPA that it may have distributed the seed corn to the United States, Europe, Japan, and South America. (item 1)
Syngenta, the American seed company that supplied the seed, has agreed to compensate farmers for any costs involved in the GE contaminated seed. (item 2)
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1.EPA Fines Syngenta $1.5 Million for Distributing Unregistered Genetically Engineered Pesticide
Grain Net, 21 December 2006 http://www.grainnet.com/articles/EPA_Fines_Syngenta__1_5_Million_for_Distributing_Unregistered_Genetically_Engineered_Pesticide-40144.html
Washington, DC - Syngenta Seeds, Inc. Golden Valley, MN has agreed to pay a $1.5 million penalty to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for selling and distributing seed corn that contained an unregistered genetically engineered pesticide called Bt 10.
While the federal government has concluded that there are no human health or environmental concerns with Bt 10 corn, it is still illegal to distribute any pesticide not registered under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
"This action shows that when a company violates the law by distributing unapproved pesticides, EPA vigorously enforces the law," said Granta Y. Nakayama, EPA's assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance.
Late in 2004, Syngenta disclosed to EPA that it may have distributed the seed corn to the United States, Europe, Japan, and South America.
Immediately following the disclosure, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and EPA began an investigation and evaluation that confirmed the distribution of unregistered seed corn on over 1,000 occasions.
A penalty was assessed by USDA, and the company destroyed all the affected seed under USDA supervision.
EPA filed today's settlement with its Environmental Appeals Board (EAB).
The EAB is the final EPA decision maker on permit, enforcement, and other administrative appeals under all major environmental statutes that the agency administers.
If approved by the board, Syngenta will pay a penalty of $1.5 million.
See Related Websites/Articles:
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
http://www.epa.gov/
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2.GE seed, crops eradicated in HB
Hawke's Bay Today, 21.12.2006
http://www.hbtoday.co.nz/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3714884&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=
All but about 50ha of the sweetcorn crops grown with seed contaminated with genetically engineered seeds in the Gisborne and Hawke's Bay regions has been destroyed.
Biosecurity officials last week ordered 258.4ha of Hawke's Bay and Gisborne sweetcorn crops planted with 1807kg of contaminated seed to be harrowed.
All growing plants were chopped and buried.
Replanting on the cleared paddocks was suspended earlier in the week after a small patch of seed that had only just germinated was found among three-week-old plants 300mm high.
Growers have said Christmas would be the latest that affected fields could be economically re-planted with sweetcorn for the processing sector.
Mr Sangster said most growers did want to re-plant with sweetcorn but some would plant a different crop.
Rain had caused delays with work in some areas.
About 80 percent of the 57ha of affected land in Gisborne was to be replanted while about 20 percent of 201ha in Hawke's Bay would be replanted.
Syngenta, the American seed company that supplied the seed, has agreed to compensate farmers for any costs involved in the GE contaminated seed.
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