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"The biotechnology industry is out of control and has now contaminated
Asia's most important staple and cash crop," said Varoonvarn
Svangsopakul of Greenpeace Southeast Asia. "We're calling
on the governments of Southeast Asia especially Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia to take urgent action to ensure that contamination will not spread in our food and environment."
Last week, a Greenpeace China research team has discovered that unapproved GMO rice is being sold and grown illegally in the Chinese province of Hubei. Interviews with seed providers and farmers
indicate that GMO rice seeds have been sold over the past two years. Samples of rice seed, unmilled and milled rice have been collected from seed companies, farmers and rice millers. Testing by the
international laboratory Genescan has confirmed the presence of genetically engineered DNA in 19 samples --18 of which are confirmed as Bt Rice -- which is genetically engineered to produce an inbuilt pesticide.
"We estimate that at least 950 to 1200 tons of GE rice entered the food chain after last year's harvest, and that up to 13,500 tons may enter the food chain after this year unless urgent action is taken,"
said Sze Pang Cheung, a campaigner of Greenpeace China
China is a major exporter of rice in the world. Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia is the 4th largest importer of Chinese rice in 2003, Vietnam is the largest importer of rice seeds from China.
The rice contamination scandal in China could also cause contamination in food and fields of these countries. It only takes one grain of GMO rice to fall in a field, grow and contaminate local
varieties especially premium varieties like Jasmine rice. Countries suffering from GMO rice contamination will also experience market rejection.
"As soon as the rice contamination was exposed, many importing countries immediately reacted. The European Union and Japan contacted Chinese embassies to get clarification. The Slovakian government announced that they will start inspection. The Chinese government is investigating it as well," Sze Pang Cheung said.
According to Greenpeace, this rice contamination case should also serve as a very serious warning to Southeast Asian countries who are also considering experiments on GMO crops.
"Governments in Southeast Asia should abandon these dangerous experiments on our food and environment because GMO crops are simply out of control. Thailand, for example, should ban all GMO field trials because we are already suffering from GMO contamination of our papaya fields," Varoonvarn said.
on the governments of Southeast Asia especially Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia to take urgent action to ensure that contamination will not spread in our food and environment."
Last week, a Greenpeace China research team has discovered that unapproved GMO rice is being sold and grown illegally in the Chinese province of Hubei. Interviews with seed providers and farmers
indicate that GMO rice seeds have been sold over the past two years. Samples of rice seed, unmilled and milled rice have been collected from seed companies, farmers and rice millers. Testing by the
international laboratory Genescan has confirmed the presence of genetically engineered DNA in 19 samples --18 of which are confirmed as Bt Rice -- which is genetically engineered to produce an inbuilt pesticide.
"We estimate that at least 950 to 1200 tons of GE rice entered the food chain after last year's harvest, and that up to 13,500 tons may enter the food chain after this year unless urgent action is taken,"
said Sze Pang Cheung, a campaigner of Greenpeace China
China is a major exporter of rice in the world. Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia is the 4th largest importer of Chinese rice in 2003, Vietnam is the largest importer of rice seeds from China.
The rice contamination scandal in China could also cause contamination in food and fields of these countries. It only takes one grain of GMO rice to fall in a field, grow and contaminate local
varieties especially premium varieties like Jasmine rice. Countries suffering from GMO rice contamination will also experience market rejection.
"As soon as the rice contamination was exposed, many importing countries immediately reacted. The European Union and Japan contacted Chinese embassies to get clarification. The Slovakian government announced that they will start inspection. The Chinese government is investigating it as well," Sze Pang Cheung said.
According to Greenpeace, this rice contamination case should also serve as a very serious warning to Southeast Asian countries who are also considering experiments on GMO crops.
"Governments in Southeast Asia should abandon these dangerous experiments on our food and environment because GMO crops are simply out of control. Thailand, for example, should ban all GMO field trials because we are already suffering from GMO contamination of our papaya fields," Varoonvarn said.
