NZ Hit By GE Contaminated Corn

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        Subject:   NZ Hit By GE Contaminated Corn
            Date:    Wed, 10 Jul 2002 08:13:29 -0400
           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:    Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov

TOP STORY - http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/print/0,1103,1263371a10,FF.html

NZ Hit By GE Contaminated Corn - Hager
10 JULY 2002

New Zealand suffered a major accidental release of genetically engineered (GE) sweetcorn in 2000, says a new book published today.

Author Nicky Hager said in the book, Seeds of Distrust, that the Government was told in November 2000 that a 5.6 tonne consignment of sweetcorn seeds from the United States had been found to be contaminated with GE sweetcorn seeds.

But by the time Prime Minister Helen Clark and Environment Minister Marian Hobbs were told, thousands of GE sweetcorn plants were already growing in Gisborne, Hawke's Bay and Marlborough, Mr Hager said.

The release of New Zealand-grown GE-contaminated sweetcorn has not been previously disclosed.

Hager said that when government leaders were told of the contamination, over half the seed was still waiting to be planted, including 1000kg supplied to a wholesaler in Timaru.

He alleged government officials prepared a special regulation, to provide necessary powers to order destruction of the crops, but at a later point the crops were left to grow and approval was given for the rest of the seed to be planted.

According to the book, at least five tonnes of GE corn - the equivalent of 100,000 cans - was processed as part of the much larger harvest of conventional corn.

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Well Mr. Helliker, Where do you get the "right" to contaminate so many innocent people?

Respectfully,  Stephen L. Tvedten

http://www.getipm.com - http://www.thebestcontrol.com

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