Greenpeace activists protest against GMO's in front of EU-parliament, during a meeting on GMO's
"This is a victory for the environment, for consumers and
farmers who want to avoid GMOs as well as for independent science",
Said Alexander Hissting, Sustainable Agriculture campaigner,
Greenpeace Germany. "The ban sends a powerful message to biotech
corporations like Monsanto which are aiming to take control of the
global food chain: Hands of our maize, hands of our rice, hands of
our food!", said Alexander.
Earlier, Ilse Aigner, the German Federal Minister for Food,
Agriculture and Consumer Protection was quoted as "I have come to
the conclusion that there are legitimate grounds to accept that
genetically modified corn from the MON810 strain constitutes a
danger to the environment" .The Minister based her decision on
the safeguard clause from the EU law (Directive 2001/18) which
allows member-states to use the precautionary principle and
prohibit GMOs in the light of new evidence.
Germany is the sixth EU country to ban the cultivation of
Monsanto's genetically modified (GM) maize MON810. The other five
countries which have already banned its planting: France, Greece,
Austria, Hungary and, most recently, Luxembourg.
However, even as country after country gives the boot to
Monsanto's hazardous corn, the same in India is undergoing field
trial in no less than 3 public sector institutions - the Tamil Nadu
Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Rajendra Krishi
Vishwavidyalaya, Samastipur, Bihar and Mahatma Phule Krishi
Vishwavidyalay(MPKV),Rahuri, Maharastra. The field trials have
ignited intense protest in past few months across the country,
leading to brutal police action, and arrest of hundreds of
protesters.
Lauding the ban by Germany, Rajesh Krishnan, Sustainable
Agriculture Campaigner of Greenpeace India said, 'Germany's
decision to ban the harmful BT Corn is truly commendable. In a true
democracy, the voice of the mass is of utmost importance. Now, as
we too prepare for the election, all political parties must ensure
that the voice of the majority is heard and all GM food crops are
banned as they violate people's rights to safe food'.
It can be pointed out here that GM food crops have recently
emerged as an election issue and several political parties
including BJP, CPI, CPI(M), CPI-ML, and PMK have promised a strong
stand against GM food in their manifestos. However Congress, the
leader of the UPA Government has surprisingly maintained complete
silence on the whole issue.
For further information, contact
Rajesh Krishnan, Sustainable Agriculture Campaigner, Greenpeace India, email: 
, Mob: +91 9845650032
Stella Paul, Media Officer, Greenpeace India, email: 
, Mob: +91 9845068125