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Dow says no evidence its bio-corn tainted crops (Monday, March 3, 2003 -- CropChoice news) -- Randy Fabi, Reuters:
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Although it was fined by the Environmental Protection
Agency for mishandling experimental biotech corn grown in Hawaii, Dow
Agrosciences said that federal regulators found no evidence the corn
contaminated nearby crops.
U.S. consumer advocates and environmentalists have urged the government to
toughen biotech regulations to ensure no unapproved crops seep into the
food supply.
Dow, a unit of Dow Chemical Co. (DOW.N), and Pioneer Hi-Bred International,
a subsidiary of DuPont Co. (DD.N), were the first companies accused by the
EPA of mishandling trial bioengineered corn crops.
Last December, the companies each agreed to pay a fine of less than $10,000
in a settlement with the EPA.
Dow was cited for not isolating its insect-resistant corn variety and for
failing to plant enough trees as a buffer zone to prevent cross-contamination.
Thomas Wiltrout, general sales manager for the company, said EPA inspectors
conducted two followup visits and concluded its corn did not actually taint
any nearby crops. Wiltrout spoke in an interview at the annual meeting of
the National Corn Growers Association and the American Soybean Association.
Pioneer said there was a "slim chance" that conventional crops may have
been contaminated by its experimental crop. Doyle Karr, a Pioneer
spokesman, said an investigation would be concluded in the next few weeks.
As part of the agreement with the EPA, both seed companies neither admitted
nor denied any wrongdoing.
The EPA action came on the heels of a federal investigation that found
ProdiGene Inc. inadvertently contaminated soybeans with an experimental
corn plant engineered to produce medicine.
The privately owned Texas company agreed to reimburse the government for
the cost of buying and destroying 500,000 bushels of tainted Nebraska
soybeans, and was fined $250,000 by the U.S. Agriculture Department.
The USDA and the Food and Drug Administration were expected to soon issue
industry guidelines on planting pharmaceutical crops.
Foodmakers and consumer groups have demanded the government prohibit
pharmaceutical crops from being grown near corn, soybeans and other crops
used for human and animal food.
Dow said it recommended to the USDA that all pharmaceutical crops be grown
outside the Midwest.
"These crops should not be planted in the Corn Belt," Wiltrout said. "You
never know with this new technology ... and we should ensure regulations
are in place to protect the integrity of our food supply."
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