GE-MAIZE CONTAMINATES CONVENTIONAL CROP Agnet Oct 13, October 12,

1998 Greenpeace news release http://www.greenpeace.org/~geneng/

Amsterdam/Hamburg - Greenpeace today published new evidence, which shows that Novartis genetically engineered (GE) maize, has cross-pollinated an adjacent field of conventional maize in Germany. Farmer’s organisations and organic associations in several countries joined Greenpeace in condemning genetic contamination caused by the GE-maize. Greenpeace demands an immediate recall of the GE-MAIZE by Novartis and calls upon governments to contain any further spread of the Bt-MAIZE. "Our members are producing healthy food in an ecologically sound and sustainable way," said Georg Janssen, the head of ABL, the family farmers’ organisation of Germany. "We will not let Novartis ruin the good image of our products." Janssen also demanded immediate and unconditional compensation from Novartis for all neighbours of their GE-fields. Also the Confidiration Paysanne of France and the British Soil Association have expressed their concern over the new results.

Steve Sprinkel, spokesperson of the Texas Organic Growers Association commented, "When such contamination impacts the organic integrity of the product produced on a certified organic farm, the grower and the provider of the seed that created the contamination should be held legally liable." The samples analysed were taken next to a field of GE-maize in the region of Baden- W|rttemberg, in southern Germany. Greenpeace marked the GE-field with a giant X in an action a month ago. The neighbouring farmer only learnt during the Greenpeace action that the maize growing less than a metre away from his field was genetically engineered. Neither Novartis, nor the German authorities have released information about the fields of transgenic maize nor did they warn neighbouring farmers. However Novartis, in a special contract with growers of its GE-Maize, did mention that a safety zone of 200 metres is necessary to avoid cross-pollination. Greenpeace demands that all genetically engineered maize from Novartis is taken back by the company immediately.

Greenpeace also calls upon the German and Spanish authorities to take immediate measures to prevent the contamination of the conventional maize harvest by Novartis’ GE-maize. Such a recall was announced last week by the Ministry of Agriculture in France following a decision of the French "Court d’Etat". Novartis GE-maize is being planted this year in Germany, France and Spain. Field tests are being conducted also in other European countries.