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- A confidential internal report leaked to GeneWatch UK
reveals that Monsanto is involved in a global campaign to promote GM foods
by influencing which experts get on international scientific committees,
promoting their views through supposedly independent scientists and gaining
influence with key decision makers in government departments in developing
countries.
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- Monsanto,s ten page internal report, headed company confidential,,
summarises the activities of its Regulatory Affairs and Scientific Outreach
teams for May and June 2000. It describes developments in the regulation
of GM crops in 20 countries world-wide and Monsanto,s efforts to influence
them. The countries include Japan, Bulgaria, Thailand, Mexico, Brazil and
Korea as well as the USA and the European Union.
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- "The leaked report shows how Monsanto are trying
to manipulate the regulation of GM foods across the globe to favour their
interests," said Dr Sue Mayer, GeneWatch UK,s Director. "It seems
they are trying to buy influence with key individuals, stack committees
with experts who support them, and subvert the scientific agenda around
the world."
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- "The scale of their campaign shows just how desperate
Monsanto is to save its business," said Dr Mayer. "The report
shows that they have virtually given up trying to influence the debate
here in the UK, having failed to convince the public of their case. But
it is worrying that Monsanto has clearly stepped up activity elsewhere,
particularly in developing countries. And whilst Monsanto often claim they
want to listen and engage in dialogue, it is quite clear from this leaked
report that this is just window dressing for a behind-the-scenes campaign
to promote their products come what may. Governments and scientists are
going to have to take precautions against such pressure if they are not
to lose even more consumer confidence."
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- The following extracts from the leaked internal paper
illustrate how pervasive the Monsanto campaign is:
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- "Global: Scientific outreach and Ag Regulatory was
instrumental in assuring that key internationally recognized scientific
experts were nominated to the FAO/WHO expert consultation on food safety
which was held in Geneva this past month. The consultation and final report
were very supportive of plant biotechnology, including support for the
critical role of substantial equivalence in food safety assessments, antibiotic
resistance markers used in these products, and the reservation of animal
feeding studies to address specific questions rather than for routine safety"
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- "Thailand: A GMO detection lab was established by
the Ministry of Public Health to develop methods to certify exports to
Europe. The lab director Dr. Pakdi is a key player in international CODEX
activities and has requested Monsanto,s assistance to train technicians
and provide reference samples. Cooperation with this request is likely
given the importance of the lab and Dr. Pakdi,s position."
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- "Global: Contacts were made with the directors of
Poison Control Centers (PCC) in many countries which should be especially
useful to facilitate rational regulation because the Poison Center directors
are relied upon heavily by state and local agencies;..an editorial was
drafted by Dr John Thomas, (Emeritus Professor of U.Texas Medical School
in San Antonio) to place in a medical journal as the first in a planned
series of outreach efforts to physicians; a meeting was held with Prof.
David Khayat, an internationally well known cancer specialist, to collaborate
on an article demonstrating the absence of links between GM food and cancers.."
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- "Global: Monsanto representatives were successful
at the recent Codex Food Labelling Committee meeting on maintaining two
labelling options for further consideration by the committee" _____
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- The full text of the leaked document is available on
the GeneWatch UK website: www.genewatch.org
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- For further information please contact Sue Mayer on 01298
871898 (work) 01298 871558 (home) 07930 308807 (mobile)
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- For comment in the United States please contact Council
for Responsible Genetics 5 Upland Rd, Suite 3, Cambridge, MA 02134 617-868-0870
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- Sue Mayer GeneWatch UK The Mill House Manchester Road
Tideswell Buxton Derbyshire SK17 8LN Ph: 01298 871898 Fax: 01298 872531
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- Visit the GeneWatch UK web site at: www.genewatch.org
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