France bans growing GMO corn

SOURCE: Mike Shooltz (mshooltz@aol.com)
SUBHEAD: The current Socialist government, like its conservative predecessor, has opposed the growing of GMO crops.

By Staff on 15 March 2014 for Reuters -
(http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/15/france-monsanto-idUSL6N0MC0BR20140315)


Image above: From (http://www.undergroundhealth.com/france-bans-monsanto-gmo-corn/).

France's agriculture ministry on Saturday banned the sale, use and cultivation of Monsanto's MON 810 genetically modified maize (corn), the only variety currently authorised in the European Union.

The French government, which maintains that GM (genetically modified) crops present environmental risks, has been trying to institute a new ban on GM maize after its highest court has twice previously struck down similar measures.

The decision is timed to avert any sowing of GM maize by farmers before a draft law is debated on April 10 aimed at banning planting of GMOs (genetically modified organisms).

"The sale, use and cultivation of varieties of maize seed from the line of genetically modified maize MON 810 (...) is banned in the country until the adoption, on the one hand, of a final decision, and secondly, of (EU) community action, " said a decree published on Saturday.

Annual sowing of maize in France gets under way in the second half of March.

The current Socialist government, like its conservative predecessor, has opposed the growing of GMO crops in light of public suspicion and widespread protests from environmentalists.

Longstanding differences between EU countries resurfaced in February when they failed to agree on whether or not to approve another GM maize variety, Pioneer 1507, developed by DuPont and Dow Chemical, leaving the way open to the EU Commission to clear it for cultivation.

France is trying to win support to overhaul the EU rules.

Below is the testimony of Michael Shooltz concerning Hawaii GMO Labeling Bill 2435.

Aloha Representatives and Senators, I am writing in strong support for SB 2435, SD2, HD1. The continually growing body of research regarding the toxicity of GMO products is becoming overwhelming. I've attached for your information a new study, just released, regarding the effects of Glyphosate (main ingredient in Roundup) on humans and animals. The quote below comes from the attached study and clearly highlights a very powerful reason why foods should be labeled to give people the right to choose. The toxic residues remain in the food even after being "frozen, dried or processed"! Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the world and considered by many to be the most toxic. (the yellow highlights are mine.) Glyphosate-containing herbicides are applied in large amounts to crops 2 to 3 times per season to remove weeds and dry out grain in a process called ‘desiccation’ [22]. Once applied, glyphosate accumulates in leaves, grains or fruit. Glyphosate residues cannot be removed by washing and they are not broken down by cooking [23]. Glyphosate residues can remain stable in foods for a year or more, even if the foods are frozen, dried or processed. Recently, many studies have proposed that glyphosate could impact the health of animals and humans. Michael Shooltz

See also:
Ea O Ka Aina: Hawaii GMO Labeling Bill 3/19/14


.