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'They're Trying to Dump GM Wheat on SA'

 

By Melanie-Ann Feris

 

January 23 2004 

An application has been made for permission to import genetically modified wheat for commercial use in South Africa - even before it has been approved in the countries where it is grown.

On January 19, Monsanto, one of the major world players in genetic manipulation, approached South Africa for permission to import genetically modified wheat, known as Roundup Ready, from the United States and Canada.

"What they are trying to do is secure an import permit in anticipation that the wheat will be allowed to be grown commercially in Canada and the US," the African Centre for Biosafety (ACB) states.

"The application is extremely strange, especially when it has never been approved where it has being tested and where the first point of approval (usually) takes place.

'Why should Africa be the dumping ground for risky food?'
"Commercial permits have not been granted for the crops in either of these countries where the wheat is being developed," said Mariam Mayet of the ACB.

ACB believes Monsanto is trying to dump the wheat in South Africa because no one else wants it.

Monsanto is struggling to obtain commercial approval in the US and Canada, because of the technical difficulties in the genetic transformation of wheat and in the face of massive rejection by consumers and farmers in those countries.

Mayet said South Africa's regulatory system was not capable of assessing the health impacts of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) introduced into the food chain.

The importation of GE (genetically engineered) wheat into South Africa, and thereafter to other parts of Africa is unnecessary, dangerous and should be rejected out of hand by the South African government, she added.
'The application is extremely strange'
"Why should Africa be the dumping ground for risky food made in a laboratory that no one else in the world wants to eat?" asks Mayet.

But Wally Green, biotechnology regulator for Monsanto, said they had applied for a commodity clearance from South Africa in the likelihood that if Roundup Ready is commercially planted the government will already have assessed the impact and safety of the product.

Green said it was not likely that Roundup Ready would be commercially planted for at least another four years.

There is a 30-day public comment period before the department of agriculture makes a decision on the application.

South Africa has been growing and selling genetically modified crops for years, without the public knowing that they might be consuming the products.

Transgenic crops like soya beans, maize and cotton have been sold commercially in South Africa since 1998.

Green said on Thursday that 300 000 hectares of maize, 85 percent of all cotton and between 22 and 30 percent of all soya beans in South Africa are transgenic.

"There is no labelling to differentiate it (GM foods) from anything else. It is not a requirement, there is not a necessity to do it," Green said.

South Africa grows transgenic maize and cotton for insect resistance and herbicide tolerance, and soya beans for herbicide tolerance.