February 25, 2008

 

US finds unapproved traces of GM crop in corn seed

 

 

Dow AgroSciences has detected traces of an unapproved biotech material in three lines of non-biotech corn seeds, the USDA said Friday (25 February 2008).

 

The contaminated seeds were planted in 2007, the USDA said, but the issue will not affect the 2008 crop, which will be planted this spring.

 

The USDA said it "took steps to ensure Dow recalled all affected seed that was shipped to dealers for the 2008 planting season."

 

The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Environmental Protection Agency are coordinating on the investigation of potential violations under their respective regulatory acts, the USDA said.

 

The USDA said that the biotech material, though unapproved, has the same traits as a pesticide that is approved.

 

The unapproved biotech seed was planted on about 53,000 acres last year, the USDA said. Total 2007 corn acreage in the US was 93.6 million acres.

 

"The unregistered product produces proteins that are identical to a registered product," the USDA said in a prepared statement. "USDA, EPA and (Food and Drug Administration) have concluded that there are no public health, food or feed safety concerns."

 

According to a statement posted on the Dow AgroSciences Web site, "The company's investigation has concluded that this low level presence must have originated within a single, small Dow AgroSciences research plot grown in compliance with applicable government requirements."

 

Jerome Peribere, president and chief executive of Dow AgroSciences, said he is "disappointed" with the incident and that the company would re-evaluate its procedures to prevent a reoccurrence.