WEEKLY WATCH number 203 (7/12/2006) | |
from Claire Robinson, WEEKLY WATCH editor Dear all: Ten years after GM crops were first planted commercially in the US, Americans remain ill-informed about and uncomfortable with GM food, reports a survey that finally puts to bed the endless nonsense about American consumers' acceptance of GM foods and confidence in US regulation (THE AMERICAS). Meanwhile, the New Zealand government is facing a $1 million bill to clean up the GM-contaminated corn it allowed into the country (AUSTRALASIA). Claire [email protected] ------------------------------------------------------------ THE AMERICAS ------------------------------------------------------------ + AMERICANS STILL WARY OF GM FOOD - STUDY People vastly underestimate how much GM food they are already consuming; lean toward wanting greater regulation of such crops; and have less faith than ever that the Food and Drug Administration will provide accurate information, the survey found. The poll also confirmed that most Americans - particularly women - do not like the idea of eating meat or milk from cloned animals. The FDA recently said it is close to allowing such food on the market. Overall, said Michael Fernandez, executive director of the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology, which sponsored the survey, Americans are "still generally uncertain" about GM and cloned foods. + SYNGENTA PROPERTY IN BRAZIL LIKELY TO BE SEIZED BY STATE GOVT Parana's governor, Roberto Requiao, who previously banned exports of GMO soybeans from the Paranagua Port, said Syngenta was breaking a federal law that prohibits GMO plants within 500 meters of public parks. Agrarian reform group Via Campesina, which had previously occupied the property before being ordered to leave by a judge, has now re-invaded it. Members of the local Landless Rural Workers Movement, better known as MST, is also said to be marching on the Syngenta property. + U.S. FOOD SECTOR WARY OF GM WHEAT See COMPANY NEWS for a related story + PATENT OFFICE FINDS "SUBSTANTIAL QUESTIONS" RE MONSANTO'S PATENTS Monsanto has filed dozens of patent infringement lawsuits asserting the four challenged patents against American farmers, many of whom are unable to hire adequate representation to defend themselves in court. The crime these farmers are accused of is nothing more than saving seed from one year's crop to replant the following year, something farmers have done since the beginning of time. Third party requests for reexamination, like the ones filed by PUBPAT, are successful in having the challenged patent either changed or completely revoked roughly 70% of the time. + U.S. AND BIO IN CODEX CONTAMINATION SCAM COMMENT from Dr Michael Antoniou: ------------------------------------------------------------ + CHINA FAILS TO GIVE COMMERCIAL APPROVAL TO GM RICE |