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Gene Drive - intervention in the "germline" of natural diversity

Leading European Food Safety Authority Staff Member Moves into Industry

A leading staff member of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has quit to work in industry. Suzy Renckens, scientific coordinator of the GMO panel, officially represented Syngenta in an expert hearing at EU level in 2008. She now holds a position there as Head of Biotech Regulatory Affairs for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The Swiss company Syngenta is one of the world’s leading producers of genetically engineered plants.

Welcome to the Newsletter of EFSA GMO Watch

The EU is split on genetically engineered plants. Only one genetical engineered plant is authorized for cultivation in the EU and even that is banned in several countries. Relatively few GM events are imported as food/feed. The risk assessment of the EFSA GMO Panel is under continuous criticism. But still the daily work of the EFSA goes on and more and more GMO applications are assessed.
This is why EFSA GMO Watch was set up to monitor the work of the EFSA GMO Panel.

The Return of the Triffids

In September 2009 genetically engineered plants returned to life like supposedly extinct monsters from a movie: Herbicide tolerant Flax CDC-FLØØ1-2 (FP967), more commonly named Triffid, was found in the European markets. All of its seeds were thought to have been destroyed in 2001. Nevertheless the genetically engineered crop popped up in food products in Germany and other countries in the EU, from where shipments were sent in regions also outside the EU.

International coalition of farmers and NGOs warns about “Monsantosizing”

Munich, 22.10.2009 In a media release released on 21 of October 2009, the international coalition No Patents on Seeds warns about increasing monpolisation of plants, animals, seeds and food. Similar the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Olivier de Schutter, raised concerns that seed patents might increase food crises.