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WTO = World Transgenic Order

Greenpeace marks a maize field with signs showing corn with a 'question mark' indicating that 1 in 200 maize crops can be genetically contaminated if the draft EU seed directive is passed . Enlarge Image

Biosafety Protocol becomes law

When the tiny pacific nation of Palau ratified the UN Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety last Friday, the way was cleared for the world's first legally binding agreement that reaffirms the sovereign right of countries to reject imports of genetically engineered organisms (GMOs). Entering into force on 11 September 2003, the Biosafety protocol recognises that GMOs are fundamentally different from their conventional counterpart since their release pose a risk to the environment, biodiversity and human health.

Tougher EU GMO regulations mean consumers will know what they are eating. Enlarge Image

Tougher EU GMO legislation

The European Parliament has adopted the world's toughest rules on the labelling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), despite intensified pressure from the US and the GE industry. The new rules bring great news for EU consumers, farmers and food producers - all food and animal feed containing GMOs must now be clearly labelled. (In the US and Canada all such freedom and information is currently denied.) It will also now be possible to trace products from the field to the fork.

EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy receives from Greenpeace Italy Genetic Engineering campaigner Federica Ferrario sacks of soy contaminated with genetically engineered (GE) varieties by the US-multinational GE company Monsanto. Enlarge Image

EU, don't cave in to US GMO agenda!

We gave two sacks of soy contaminated with Monsanto's genetically engineered (GE) varieties to Pascal Lamy (EU Trade Commissioner) and asked him to send them back to his US counterpart, Robert Zoellick. The right to say no to genetically engineered (GE) food should be available not just to Europeans, but to everyone around the world. We urge the EU to stand strong at the WTO meeting in Cancun in September, and not cave in to US pressure on genetically modified organisms (GMOs). GMOs are a biosafety issue, not a trade issue.

Greenpeace activists dressed as security guards confiscate a bag of genetically modified organisms from 'George Bush'. Enlarge Image

WTO free zone

Greenpeace cordoned off the UN building in Montreal, to protect it from the US attack on consumers, farmers and the environment. Activists at the Greenpeace checkpoint were on the lookout for representatives of the US administration and Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, who are trying to undermine countries' rights to reject or ban genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Greenpeace intercepts a trainload of USA maize as it tries to enter Mexico. Enlarge Image

Monsanto's seeds of destruction

Mexicans are being forced to swallow Monsanto's seeds of destruction, while back in the US, Monsanto is not allowed to grow its genetically engineered (GE) cotton for fear of GE contamination. To expose this double standard our activists blocked a trainload of GE contaminated maize as it crossed the Rio Grande into Mexico.

Action against GM maize in Spain, August 2003 Enlarge Image

GM crops flunk the test

The debate on Genetically Modified (GM) crops is often a polarised one with environmentalists and the majority of sceptical consumers against the crops and powerful corporate interests attempting to steamroller all opposition. Now those companies may be in for a serious setback, as scientific tests devised by the UK Government and GM companies look set to say that GM crops are environmentally unsafe.

Greenpeace activists harvest 1 ton of transgenic Novartis maize. Enlarge Image

GE crops take a double hit

Eagerly awaited scientific studies published by the UK Royal Society have substantiated warnings that genetically engineered (GE) crops can be harmful to the environment. The studies expose the risks of GE crops to the environment and challenge the benefits promised by the GE industry. Monsanto, the GE industry leader has at the same time announced a withdrawal from Europe for "strategic reasons."

Anti-GE campaigners in front of the Eiffel Tower, Paris Enlarge Image

EU retailers won't sell GE

What do the major European food retailers and producers think about genetically engineered (GE) food? In a new Greenpeace report, we asked them. Of the 60 top companies we contacted, 49 of them won't use GE in their own brands, and they've gone on record saying so.

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Latest Update

Latest Update: The WTO President's close advisor, the Councillor of External Relations, accepted our letter to the President outlining our demands - the WTO is not the right body to deal with the issue of GMOs. Take action: Take part in the cyberaction to stop the WTO attack on our right to say no to GMOs. In Depth: Press Release Find out more about the WTO and why it's a problem.