a list of signatures of organizations opposed to genetically modified rice

On October 5th, a list of signatures of organizations opposed to genetically modified rice was presented to Aventis, Monsanto, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Aventis, infamous for the StarLink Corn problem, is preparing to import the herbicide-resistant LibertyLink Rice into Japan for use in animal feed and processed foods. They have already received approval from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and are preparing to undergo a food safety inspection by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW). Furthermore, Monsanto, working with the Aichi-Ken Agricultural Research Center, has developed the genetically modified rice strain, "Matsuribare" and is seeking government approval to begin cultivation in Japan.
In response to these efforts to commercialize genetically modified rice, a nationwide campaign to gather signatures from consumer, cooperative, and producer organizations was sponsored by the Consumers' Union of Japan, Stop Genetically Modified Rice Cooperatives Network, NO! GMO Campaign, and the Genetically Modified Rice Watch Center.
On October 5th, a delegation of 30 representative members from the four sponsor organizations gathered for one day to deliver the collected signatures to the two companies and two ministries.
The delegation first went to Monsanto where they were received rudely and were at first refused entrance into the company. They were told that the signatures would be accepted but would not be given to the person in authority. In effect, Monsanto ignored the voice of the Japanese consumer. Because of this attitude, the delegation chose not to present the signatures. (The signatures will be sent later by some other means.)
At Aventis, three delegate representatives were allowed to meetwith company representatives. There was a promise made to forward the signatures to the headquarters in France, but specific fears remained unaddressed. Aventis indicated that the application to the MHLW was still being prepared and they did not know when it would be submitted.
In the discussion with MHLW, the Ministry indicated that evaluations of safety would be based solely on data provided by the companies making application. The delegation complained that this information had yet been made public but were told that because no company had applied for safety approval, there was no information to make public.
At MAFF, the group met with the section chief of the Technology Safety Section, and representatives from the Feed Section and Food Agency to discuss the development of genetically modified rice. The MAFF representatives stated that they were working on the safety evaluations, but failed to elaborate and offered non-persuasive arguments such as that they were working on rice to reduce allergies and disease-resistant rice. They said that they would release the safety evaluation data, and while this was appreciated, doubts remain as to the extent of what they will reveal.
The total number of organization signatures gathered was 1282 for Monsanto, 1281 for Aventis, 1272 for MHLW, and 1292 for MAFF. Thanks are due to everyone who contributed.
(Namiko Ono)

October , 2001
Jacques du Puy, Managing Director
Aventis Crop Science Japan

A Letter of Protest and a Demand to Stop the Application for Import and Distribution of Liberty Link Rice

StarLink Corn, a product of your company, has been detected not only in animal feed but also food for human consumption in Japan since last year. StarLink Corn has not been approved for human consumption in the United States and has not been approved for animal or human consumption here in Japan. Furthermore, the Environmental Protection Agency has reported that StarLink Corn is not appropriate for human consumption because of unresolved questions about its potential to cause allergic reactions.
As a result of the StarLink problem, StarLink Corn, unapproved by the Japanese government and potentially harmful, has been brought into Japan. The citizens of Japan, without any recourse, have been subjected to consuming this unapproved, potentially dangerous product. Your company played a major role in creating this situation.
Furthermore, your company has received approval from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries for the environmental safety of the herbicide resistant rice strain called Liberty Link Rice (LL Rice) as a prelude to importation. In addition, we have received information that you intend to apply to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries for approval of distribution of LL Rice for animal feed and also to apply to the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Labor for approval to distribute LL Rice for human consumption.
In Japan, we are continuing the recall of foods tainted with unapproved genetically modified organisms caused by situations such as the StarLink problem. We believe that you recognize that fears about foods tainted with genetically modified organisms are growing. Despite this, you continue to pursue the development of genetically modified rice, our staple food. In fact, your company is one of the first to do so and is on the verge of making application. We view this as a challenge to the Japanese people and an act of violence by multinational corporations and will not permit it. We firmly protest actions such as those by your company and make the following demands.

Demands
1. We demand that you stop the application to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries for approval to import and distribute Liberty Link Rice for use as animal feed. Furthermore, We demand that you stop the application to the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Labor for approval to import and distribute Liberty Link Rice for use in foods for human consumption. We will declare and publicize these demands.
2. We demand that you immediately withdraw the applications for approval of StarLink made to the Ministries of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries and Health, Welfare, and Labor.
Organization Name
Representative's Name/Signature
Address

October , 2001
Tetsuya Yamamoto, Managing Director
Monsanto Japan Limited

A Letter of Protest and a Demand to Halt the Development of Genetically Modified Rice Products

During the period from May to July of this year, the genetically modified potato strains "New Leaf Plus" and "New Leaf Y" developed by your company have been detected in various snack foods although they have not been approved for use in food products in Japan. We strongly protest the fact that you have not assumed responsibility for this and have maintained silence in spite of the major problems you have caused our society through the recall of these products.
Your company continues development of herbicide-resistant rice strains to be cultivated and sold in Japan. You have been developing the genetically modified strain of Japonica rice known as "Matsuribare" with the Aichi-Ken Agricultural Research Center since 1998. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries approved herbicide-resistant rice strain for general cultivation for human and animal consumption and for use in processed foods in May of this year.
However, on June 5th at an informational meeting held by the Aichi-Ken Agricultural Research Center, the problems with the herbicide-resistant rice strain developed by your company became very evident.
§ The prime purpose of the modified rice was to decrease the labor of and cost to Japanese farmers; however, the reduction in cost is no more than 10% - 20% less than commercial cultivation, and when the total cost of production including more expensive seeds due to patent costs and increased agricultural chemical costs are considered, the producer does not really save at all.
§ It became clear at the meeting that if herbicide-resistant rice were imported from the U.S., which can produce rice at 1/10th the cost, Japanese farmers would not be able to compete. This would invite the destruction of Japanese agriculture.
§ Furthermore, both the genetically modified and the non-genetically modified rice had a cross-pollination rate of about 0.23%; this could impact the local ecosystems and environment by slowly polluting the local genetic material.
We cannot sanction the threat to our food safety, the genetic pollution of Japanese fields, nor the destruction of our environment brought by the introduction of technology to genetically modify our main staple, rice. We make the following demand.

Demand
1. We demand that you stop the applications to the Ministriesy of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries and Health, Labour and Welfare for approval for using genetically modified rice in food products.

Organization Name
Representative's Name/Signature
Address

October , 2001
The Honorable Tsutomo Sakaguchi
Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare

A Demand to Deny Approval of Genetically Modified Rice Food Products

Your Ministry is surely aware that the anxiety the Japanese feel about the safety of genetically modified crops as food and their impact on the environment is spreading.
We have recently learned that Aventis, the cause of the StarLink problem, is preparing to import and distribute Liberty Link Rice (LL Rice), an herbicide resistant rice strain. Although LL Rice has not received approval from the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries has given LL Rice approval for environmental safety. We have learned that Aventis, in preparation for the import and distribution of LL Rice for animal feed, is planning to apply to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries for safety testing and to apply to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare for safety testing for human consumption.
Furthermore, since 1998 Monsanto has continued in the joint development of the herbicide-resistant, genetically modified strain of Japonica rice "Matsuribare" for commercial production with the Aichi-Ken Agricultural Research Center. In addition, in May of this year the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries approved it for the open field cultivation for use in human food products, prepared food products, and animal feed.
We cannot sanction the threat to our food safety, the genetic pollution of Japanese fields, nor the destruction of our environment brought by the introduction of technology to genetically modify our main food staple, rice. We make the following demand.

Demand
1. We demand that you refuse the application for the safety inspection of Liberty Link Rice that will be submitted by the Aventis Corporation.
2. We demand that you refuse the application for the safety inspection of the genetically modified rice that will be submitted by the Monsanto Corporation.

Organization Name
Representative's Name/Signature
Address

October , 2001
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries

A Letter of Protest and a Demand to Refuse the Approval for the Cultivation, Importation, and Distribution of Genetically Modified Rice

Your Ministry is surely aware that the anxiety the Japanese feel about the safety of genetically modified crops as food and their impact on the environment is spreading.
We have recently learned that Aventis, the cause of the StarLink problem, is preparing to import and distribute Liberty Link Rice (LL Rice), an herbicide resistant rice strain. Although LL Rice has not received approval from the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries has given LL Rice approval for environmental safety. We have learned that Aventis, in preparation for the import and distribution of LL Rice for animal feed, is planning to apply to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries for safety testing and to apply to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare for safety testing for human consumption.
Furthermore, since 1998 Monsanto has continued in the joint development of the herbicide-resistant, genetically modified strain of Japonica rice "Matsuribare" for commercial production with the Aichi-Ken Agricultural Research Center. In addition, in May of this year the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries approved it for the open field cultivation for use in human food products, prepared food products, and animal feed.
We cannot sanction the threat to our food safety, the genetic pollution of Japanese fields, nor the destruction of our environment brought by the introduction of technology to genetically modify our main food staple, rice. We make the following demand.

Demand
1. We demand that you refuse the application for the import and distribution of of Liberty Link Rice that will be submitted by the Aventis Corporation. Furthermore, we ask that you revoke the environmental safety approval already granted.
2. We demand that you refuse the domestic cultivation of herbicide-resistant rice. Furthermore, we ask that you revoke the approval for open field cultivation already granted.

Organization Name
Representative's Name/Signature
Address

[ November 02, 2001 | NGO's_infomation ]