Subject: AVENTIS PAYS MILLIONS FOR STARLINK CORN
DEBACLE----
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2001 08:58:42 -0500
From: Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)
To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State
of California, Department of Pesticide Regulation
cc: Carol Browner browner.carol@epa.gov
Dear Mr. Helliker,
I thought you might like to read an article entitled: AVENTIS PAYS
MILLIONS FOR STARLINK CORN DEBACLE.
WASHINGTON, DC, January 24, 2001 (ENS) - Aventis
CropScience - the maker of StarLink genetically modified corn - has agreed to
pay growers 25 cents per bushel
of corn to ensure that Starlink stays out of the food supply.
Starlink turned up on grocery shelves last year in
products like taco shells and tortillas, prompting billions of dollars in
recalls, and leaving many farmers without a market for their crops.
Aventis has signed an agreement with the attorneys
general of 17 states to pay millions of dollars to farmers and grain
processors to compensate them for corn they cannot sell.
"I am very pleased we reached this formal
agreement," said Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, who announced the
agreement on Tuesday. "Aventis
has affirmed the assurances and claim procedures it posted at the company web
site recently for growers and elevators, and the company specifically assured
the states that it has access to assets necessary to satisfy its obligations
under the agreement."
"Now we have an agreement that can be enforced by
the states," Miller said. "Aventis expressly agreed that it is
obligated to compensate growers and elevators for loss in value resulting from
StarLink corn, buffer corn and commingled corn. That means the states have
clear standing to go to court if Aventis fails to live up to its
obligations."
The agreement includes claim procedures for farmers who
planted StarLink and for farmers whose crops test positive for the StarLink
protein even though they did not plant the engineered variety. Many
traditional corn crops have been contaminated with StarLink proteins through
pollen drift or mixing at grain silos.
Grain silo operators that have lost money because their
equipment became contaminated with StarLink corn will also be eligible for
reimbursement.
Aventis will pay 25 cents per bushel to growers, and use
the contaminated corn for animal feed other approved uses. Growers can apply
for reimbursement for the costs of storing, testing or transporting StarLink
corn, but they must apply before February 15.
More information is available at: http://www.StarLinkCorn.com
Well Mr. Helliker,
I am glad "they" finally have admitted that "frankenfoods"
can CONTAMINATE other fields and equipment.
I am always amazed that you "regulators" never seem to find
out the true dangers of the POISONS you "register" until there has
been an awful lot of needless CONTAMINATION.
Respectfully, Stephen
L. Tvedten
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