GM Maize Ban in Germany

[gilly]

How come the German government has the sense & decency to do this, but Brown hasn't?...

Germany to ban cultivation of GMO maize: Minister

By Michael Hogan
and Thorsten SeverinPosted 2009/04/14 at 7:01 am EDT

BERLIN/HAMBURG, Apr. 14, 2009 (Reuters) — Germany will ban cultivation and sale of genetically modified (GMO) maize, German Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner said on Tuesday.

The ban affects U.S. biotech company Monsanto's MON 810 maize which may no longer be sown for this summer's harvest, Aigner told a news conference. MON 810 maize is the only GM crop currently approved by the EU for commercial use.

"I have come to the conclusion that there is a justifiable reason to believe that genetically modified maize of the type MON 810 presents a danger to the environment," Aigner said.

Monsanto declined immediate comment.

Aigner, who took office in October 2008, said previously she would review approval for cultivation of GMO maize in Germany before this year's sowing took place in late April.

Monsanto gave German authorities a report on compliance with cultivation rules at the end of March.

German authorities had given Aigner differing assessments of the report, the minister said. But the Environment Ministry also believed GMOs presented a threat to the environment.

The decision to ban was based on scientific factors and was not a political decision, Aigner said. It was an individual case and not a fundamental decision against GMO crops, she added.

Her ministry would now prepare a report into Germany's strategy on GMO crops.

Aigner stressed that five other European Union countries have banned GMO maize cultivation in the face of EU approvals.

Aigner's decision was welcomed by German environmentalist association BUND.

"The suspicions that genetic maize damages nature and animals are so widespread that a ban is absolutely necessary," BUND chairman Hubert Weiger said.

Environmental group Greenpeace called on Aigner to work inside the EU to stop further approvals of GMO maize.

A series of scientific studies had shown that GMO maize was dangerous to the environment, Greenpeace spokeswoman Stephanie Toewe said.

German farmers have registered intentions to cultivate some 3,600 hectares of maize for the 2009 harvest, up from 3,200 hectares in 2008.

But the total is an insignificant part of Germany's annual maize cultivation of around 1.8 to 2.0 million hectares.

(Reporting by Thorsten Severin and Michael Hogan; Editing by Editing by Peter Blackburn)

http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre53d2cv-us-grain-germany-gmo/

[andrium]

That was the best news of today! I couldn´t suppress a joyful laughter after hearing about their decision on german national radio this afternoon! :p

Finally, someone in our government got the guts and rained on Monsanto´s shameful, deceptive parade (at least for a while).
Austria and Hungary also banned GMO-maize a few months ago and hopefully, France will follow that equitable initiative!
It´s a pity that the german ban only affects this one special crop; other "Franken-maize" is still permitted to be grown and Monsanto already declared to appeal on points of law in last minute to assure this year´s sowing on german fields....freggin bastards!

[hey_jude]

Good find gilly :)

Monsanto declined immediate comment.:D

Right now, so who is our Minister for Agriculture?

Oops ...we no longer have one :eek:

Comrade Brown is probably tucking into his freerange organic food and he and WestMONSTER expect us to eat Monsanto shite!

[pduffy4]

Ilse Aigner, a woman with bigger balls than Gordon (nay balls) Brown!

Lets hope this does not mean Monsanto will come up with something worse.

[always_rebel]

How come the German government has the sense & decency to do this, but Brown hasn't?...

Germany to ban cultivation of GMO maize: Minister

By Michael Hogan
and Thorsten SeverinPosted 2009/04/14 at 7:01 am EDT

BERLIN/HAMBURG, Apr. 14, 2009 (Reuters) — Germany will ban cultivation and sale of genetically modified (GMO) maize, German Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner said on Tuesday.

The ban affects U.S. biotech company Monsanto's MON 810 maize which may no longer be sown for this summer's harvest, Aigner told a news conference. MON 810 maize is the only GM crop currently approved by the EU for commercial use.

There is no such ban in Poland.

Whatever the previous gvt won in Brussels, the new one has lost.

Monsanto said, Poland actually has to PROVE GM foods are DANGEROUS to one's health (sic!). Otherwise they are free to have new plantations of GM crap.

[ownoiz]

Germany to ban cultivation of GMO maize


Good. Now it would be good if the rest of the GM growing world wakes up.

GM wheat was allowed for trial in Victoria Australia last year. Desperate farmers were willing to plant it after years of low rainfall in South East Australia.

I now only eat grains and pastas imported from Europe, which are made in non GM countries, and imported by independant specialty shops. Last year i would buy Australian made pasta. Not anymore.

This is another thing we could all do to send a message that we dont want to eat that shite, and have our food controlled by a small group of people (monsanto and the likes)
.
__________________
"Mall people they come and go, small people they just dont know" - Anna Faris

[gilly]

I wonder why the article doesn't specify what the danger is that the Germans have identified as being caused by the GMO maize.

It must be something dramatic, if they've singled this one crop out to reject.

[jolinemaria]

Very brave!
:):):):)

[pinkfreud]

list of countries that have currently banned/ applied a 'moratorium' on GM crops: http://www.safe2use.com/ca-ipm/01-05-17b.htm


austria and hungary have also banned the import of GM crops (in the face of tremendous pressure) http://www.aboutmyplanet.com/environment/two-countries-ban-genetically-modified-crops/

[andrium]

The MON 810 maize produces his own pesticide against Ostrinia nubilalis (European corn borer).
But it doesn´t only kill these specific moths, but everything coming to close, like bees, bumblebees, butterflies,
hell, it even can kill field mice and birds, I think!
It simply creates havoc in the surrounding eco system/ food chains!
Therefor, and because MON 810 is totally resistant against any kind of herbicide (aside from Monsanto-stuff), german government banned it!
Besides, there is always the huge risk of cross-pollination with non GMO-maize...

[gilly]

The MON 810 maize produces his own pesticide against Ostrinia nubilalis.
But it doesn´t only kill these specific moths, but everything coming to close, like bees, bumblebees, butterflies,
hell, it even can kill field mice and birds, I think!
It simply creates havoc in the surrounding eco system/ food chains!
Therefor, and because MON 810 is totally resistant against any kind of herbicide (aside from Monsanto-stuff), german government banned it!
Besides, there is always the huge risk of cross-pollination with non GMO-maize...

Thanks for info.

(I feel the cross-pollination point's a red herring though, because there won't be any non GM maize soon, if they get their way).

*EDIT* Though it's obviously relevant if countries are forced to run tests before they're allowed to ban it, in order to 'prove' that it's harmful to the environment.

[gilly]

Clip from another article...

"However the ban could prove costly for the German government. Experts in Aigner's ministry recently told SPIEGEL that it will be hard to prove conclusively that MON 810 damages the environment, which could enable Monsanto to win a court case opposing the ban and potentially expose the government to €6-7 million ($7.9-9.2 million) in damages".

[always_rebel]

Clip from another article...

"However the ban could prove costly for the German government. Experts in Aigner's ministry recently told SPIEGEL that it will be hard to prove conclusively that MON 810 damages the environment, which could enable Monsanto to win a court case opposing the ban and potentially expose the government to €6-7 million ($7.9-9.2 million) in damages".

yeah, that's their tactics. Then, in case of cross-pollination,they will sue you for stealing their "patent". They've done it before.

Throughout 2004 and 2005, Monsanto filed lawsuits against many farmers in Canada and the U.S. The lawsuits have been on the grounds of patent infringement, specifically the farmer's sale of seed containing Monsanto's patented genes–which require the farmer initial purchase of the seed and its technology–unknowingly sown by wind carrying the seeds from neighboring crops. These instances began in the mid to late 1990s, with one of the most significant cases being decided in Monsanto's favor by the Canadian Supreme Court. By a 5-4 vote in late May 2004, that court ruled that "by cultivating a plant containing the patented gene and composed of the patented cells without license, the appellants (canola farmer Percy Schmeiser) deprived the respondents of the full enjoyment of the patent." With this ruling, the Canadian courts followed the U.S. Supreme Court in its decision on patent issues involving plants and genes.

[gilly]

yeah, that's their tactics. Then, in case of cross-pollination,they will sue you for stealing their "patent". They've done it before.

It's amazing what some ruthless bastards can get away with! :mad:

[mightiswrong]

The threat possed by companies like Monsanto (http://wideeyecinema.com/?p=105) and the self-serving supermarkets that sell their products is so very grave it calls for much more serious action. Family gardens provide much healthier food and allow one to stop investing in destructive industries like agriculture and biotech. They also make an island of nature. For example planting natural corn in the west of wales and replanting the seeds can help save the corn. Trading seeds is a great action but above all home grown is the most healthy (http://www.anastasiasgarden.com/healinggardens/).

[motleyhoo]

Think about it - they GE the corn to create its own pesticide, which kills any insect that tries to eat it. They never say what happenes when we eat it. "Sir, would you like a little insecticide with your corn and butter? It's free."

Just as heinous are their Roundup-ready crops which makes it so they can spray fields of crops with Round-Up herbicide and it will only kill the weeds not the crops. That means you are eating the herbicides when those crops are picked and then make their way to your kitchen. You cannot wash it off because it is inside the plants.