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Despite ban GMO corn gluten feed from US unloaded in Rotterdam harbour
Following the decision Greenpeace conducted research to see when and
where any future shipments of corn gluten feed from the US was due to
arrive in the EU. It was discovered that there was a shipment due to
arrive in the Netherlands on Sunday 17th April to Rotterdam.
Greenpeace has informed the Dutch authorities of the ships arrival and of its cargo. When approached by a Greenpeace spokesperson the crew of the vessel, "Victory C", confirmed that they do not have the documents proving the absence of unauthorised Bt10 that is called for by the EU emergency measures.
From 8 am Monday morning the cargo from ship "Victory C" started to be unloaded to a smaller boat to transport the corn gluten feed to animal feed storage warehouses near the harbour.
However the Dutch Government is so far not trying to stop the ship from unloading. It has said that it will conduct some testings on the shipment but has given no other indication that it is taking action.
Last Friday the member states of the EU have decided that no more maize corn from US is allowed to be placed on the market as long as certification for absence of Bt 10, an unauthorised genetically modified maize, can not be proven.
Greenpeace is asking authorities to prevent the shipment from unloading the remains of it's unwanted cargo. If the material is unloaded a guarantee should be given by the Dutch government that the corn gluten feed will not leave Rotterdam harbour until evidence that it is not contaminated by Bt 10 has been given. If that can not be given then this illegal cargo should be returned to the US or be destroyed.
This looks like another proof that GMO regulation in Europe is not working in practise. Today it is exactly one year since the new European regulation for food and feed came into force requiring full labelling of GMOs. Since then a number of deficiencies have been revealed. There is lack of consumer protection due to insufficient regulation concerning coexistence, labelling of animal products and proper risk assessment.
Greenpeace has informed the Dutch authorities of the ships arrival and of its cargo. When approached by a Greenpeace spokesperson the crew of the vessel, "Victory C", confirmed that they do not have the documents proving the absence of unauthorised Bt10 that is called for by the EU emergency measures.
From 8 am Monday morning the cargo from ship "Victory C" started to be unloaded to a smaller boat to transport the corn gluten feed to animal feed storage warehouses near the harbour.
However the Dutch Government is so far not trying to stop the ship from unloading. It has said that it will conduct some testings on the shipment but has given no other indication that it is taking action.
Last Friday the member states of the EU have decided that no more maize corn from US is allowed to be placed on the market as long as certification for absence of Bt 10, an unauthorised genetically modified maize, can not be proven.
Greenpeace is asking authorities to prevent the shipment from unloading the remains of it's unwanted cargo. If the material is unloaded a guarantee should be given by the Dutch government that the corn gluten feed will not leave Rotterdam harbour until evidence that it is not contaminated by Bt 10 has been given. If that can not be given then this illegal cargo should be returned to the US or be destroyed.
This looks like another proof that GMO regulation in Europe is not working in practise. Today it is exactly one year since the new European regulation for food and feed came into force requiring full labelling of GMOs. Since then a number of deficiencies have been revealed. There is lack of consumer protection due to insufficient regulation concerning coexistence, labelling of animal products and proper risk assessment.
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