Thailand Bans All GE Crops

6th April 2001.
Thailand bans genetically engineered crop trials

Greenpeace today applauded the Thai Government's decision to stop the
release of all Genetically Engineered (GE) crops into the environment and no
longer allow any GE field trials in Thailand. With this decision Thailand
takes the lead in Asia to protect its environment, biodiversity and farmers
from genetic pollution.

The cabinet of the Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra decided to instruct the
Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to halt all approvals for GE field
trials (1). The decision should also mark the end of ongoing field trials on
GE cotton and GE corn, conducted
by agribusiness giant Monsanto, the second largest seed provider in Thailand
(2). Thailand has already banned all commercial growing of GE crops on its
territory (3).

"Thailand's biodiversity is unique and precious. It is our culture, our food
and our future. Greenpeace congratulates this Government action to protect
our food and fields from the dangers of genetic engineering and encourages
other ASEAN governments to follow. We demand that Monsanto respects this
decision and terminates their existing field trials," said ecologist Dr
Jiragorn Gajaseni, Executive Director of Greenpeace South East Asia.

By making this bold decision Thailand can avoid the environmental and
economic problems already being experienced by those countries that have
adopted GE crops. In Canada GE canola is developing into a major weed
problem, which requires the use of
conventional toxic herbicides for removal. In the United States over a
billion dollars have been spent trying to recall a genetically engineered
potentially allergenic Starlink corn, which contaminated 430 million bushels
of harvest.

In order to truly assure Thailand's GE free status, Greenpeace calls on the
government to now urgently check and control remaining imports of
genetically engineered food and
commodities, such as corn and soybeans from the US.

"Thailand has taken the first step to protect Asia from the threat of
genetic engineering. The message is clear: The only way to prevent genetic
pollution from GE crops is never to plant them in the first place," said
Auaiporn Suthonthanyakorn, Greenpeace GE
campaigner for South East Asia.

For more information:
In Thailand: Auaiporn Suthonthanyakorn, Greenpeace Genetic Engineering
Campaigner, Thailand, Mob: +6618207006;

In the UK: Charlie Kronick, GM campaign Manager 0207 865 8228;
Louise Edge, Greenpeace UK Press Office 0207 865 8255.

Greenpeace International: Isabelle Meister, Greenpeace International GE
campaigner, Mob: +41794184455; Greenpeace International Press Office,
Teresa Merilainen, Tel: +31205236637
{ HYPERLINK http://www.greenpeace.org }http://www.greenpeace.org

1) The decision of the Prime Minister 50/2001, made on 3 April is an
instruction and it translates: the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative
to halt all GE crop field trials. On the same day it was decided to set up a
panel to draft a biosafety act, farmers, consumers and academics will
participate in this panel.

2) In 2000, the two GE crops allowed for field testing in Thailand were
Monsanto's Bt (bacillus thuriengiensis) Bollgard cotton and Monsanto's Bt
corn, both genetically engineered to kill insects. For the Bt Bollgard
cotton, Monsanto has a permit to
conduct field trials for this and the next year. Monsanto's field trials
have been contested by Thai farmers' organisations and environmental groups.

(3) In October 1999, the Thai Economic Policy Committee decided to ban the
import of GE seeds for commercial cultivation, but continued to allow
research-oriented imports. The ban will continue until GMOs are
scientifically proven to be safe.

Almut Ibler
Press Office Organiser
Greenpeace UK
020 7 8658257
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk
Nagging thoughts about chemicals lurking in your kitchen?
Check out the Greenpeace Chemical Kitchen at:
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/chemicalkitchen.htm