[NYTr] Bayer´s GE rice found in Budweiser / Religious leaders hail restraining order

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

CBGnetwork - Oct 9, 2007
http://www.cbgnetwork.org

8 October 2007, Greenpeace International

Anheuser-Busch using experimental genetically-engineered (GE) rice
to brew Budweiser

Amsterdam, International - Greenpeace today released the results
of analysis showing the presence of an untested experimental
genetically-engineered strain of rice at a mill in Arkansas, in the
United States, which is operated by Anheuser- Busch to brew its
beer brand, Budweiser. An independent laboratory, commissioned by
Greenpeace, detected the presence of GE rice (Bayer LL601) in three
out of four samples taken at the mill.

The experimental GE rice is one of three rice varieties that were
first found in 2006 to have contaminated rice stocks in the US.
Since then, GE contamination has been found in approximately 30 per
cent of US rice stocks.

This has had a massive negative impact on the US rice industry as
foreign markets, where GE rice has not been approved, have been
closed to US rice.

"Anheuser-Busch must make a clear statement about the level of GE
contamination of the rice used to brew Budweiser in the US and spell
out what measures are in place to ensure this beer does not reach
the company's export markets," said Doreen Stabinsky, Greenpeace
International GE Campaigner.

"US beer drinkers need Anheuser-Busch to explain why it is not
preventing use of this genetically-engineered rice in the US. If,
as the company has informed Greenpeace, all of the Budweiser exported
from the US or manufactured outside of the US is guaranteed GE free
then Anheuser-Busch needs to state this  publicly, and explain the
double standard," said Stabinsky.

Greenpeace informed Anheuser-Busch of the test results prior to
their release and sought clear information from the company on the
extent of contamination and its global policy on the use of GE
ingredients.

Anheuser-Busch responded that the rice is approved in the US and
is not used in brewing Budweiser destined for export. The full
extent of the contamination remains unclear, however.

LL601 GE rice was retroactively granted approval by the US Dept of
Agriculture in an effort to reduce public concern and company
liability despite 15,000 public objections. The European Food Safety
Authority stated that there was insufficient data to make a finding
of safety. Greenpeace says that US consumers have a right to know
if this GE rice is used to make Budweiser. This GE rice is not
approved outside the US so the Budweiser brewed with it could not
be sold abroad.

Anheuser-Busch is the largest single rice buyer in the US, buying
6-10 per cent of the annual US rice crop. Budweiser is one of only
a few beers having rice as an ingredient. The brand is found in
around 60 countries through a mix of exports and local brewing
arrangements.

"We are asking Anheuser-Busch to make a global commitment to produce
all of its beer GE free. Anything less will leave a bad taste in
the mouth of Budweiser drinkers." said Doreen Stabinsky of Greenpeace.

                              ***

October 08, 2007, Sun Star

GMO critics hail court for TRO on Bayer's application

KORONADAL CITY -- Religious leaders here hailed the recent decision
of a Philippine court in issuing a temporary restraining order
against the genetically modified rice produced by Bayer Crop Science,
Inc.

Oblates of Notre Dame Sister Pat Babiera, justice and peace coordinator
of the Diocese of Marbel, assailed Bayer for trying to introduce
genetically modified rice variety Liberty Link 62 (LL62) in the
country.

"Consistent with our advocacy stance for preserving the integrity
of creation-we laud the temporary restraining order issued by a
court stopping the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Plant
Industry from approving the application of the genetically-modified
rice Bayer LL62," she said in a statement.

Last month, Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 101 Judge
Evangeline Castillo Marigomen favored the injunction sought by
environmental group Greenpeace.

"With the unfavorable publications and debates these genetically
modified organisms have spawned, it is but prudent that the approval
of the application of [Bayer] be restrained in the meantime considering
that rice is a staple on the dining table of the Filipinos," her
decision reads.

The injunction petition, which Greenpeace filed August 23, questioned
the apparent lack of public voice and public consultation on GMO
approvals by DA and BPI, particularly in the case of Bayer LL62's
application.

Sister Babiera said it is "very risky" to allow genetically modified
rice in the country, especially since Filipinos are rice consumers.

"We do not know yet the hazards that it will produce in our rice
biodiversity, environment, and well-being," she added.

Babiera expressed fears that once LL62 is approved for commercial
propagation in the country, the Philippines, which imports rice,
could become a dumping ground of genetically-altered rice rejected
by other countries.

She said they opposed the entry of genetically modified rice in the
Philippines since the effects of another transgenic crop, the
Bacillus Thuringiensis corn, have not been fully determined.

"And now here comes the genetically-modified rice with [also] unknown
implications on human health, biodiversity, food security and
farmers' livelihood," the nun said.

Daniel Ocampo, Greenpeace genetic engineering campaigner in Southeast
Asia, said that if Bayer's application for LL62 is approved, "the
entry of GMO rice in the Philippines will irrevocably alter the
future of the Filipinos' most important staple food."

He said the group filed the petition also because Bayer's application
"will put our rice under further control of greedy corporate
interests."

LL62 is rice with DNA injected with genetic material from an entirely
different organism to resist a powerful weed killer, glufosinate,
also produced by Bayer.

Bayer reportedly filed the application with the BPI in August last
year for the approval of its GMO rice in the Philippines.

It filed the application at the height of the biggest genetic
contamination case concerning United States rice supply.

                         ***

06 Oct 2007, United Press International

Tainted rice route remains mystery

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 Agriculture officials say documents destroyed
several years ago might have helped determine how the U.S. supply
of long-grain rice became tainted.

After 14 months of investigation, the Agriculture Department said
Friday it could not determine how a variety of unapproved genetically
engineered rice entered the nation's supply, The Washington Post
reported Saturday.

Clues might have been found in routinely destroyed documents, agency
officials said, recommending firms retain maps and records of where
they plant experimental crops.

Because the investigation was inconclusive, no action will be taken
against Bayer CropScience, whose gene-altered rice entered the
supply, the Post reported.

The contamination -- by experimental genes that made the rice
pesticide-tolerant -- caused countries worldwide to reject imports
of U.S.

long-grain rice, while farmers, scientists and environmental activists
called for a strenuous review of gene-altered crops.

Some countries again are accepting U.S. rice if it is tested, but
the European Union and Russia continue to buy rice elsewhere, costing
U.S.

agriculture hundreds of millions of dollars a year, the Post reported.

===============
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