December 29, 2006

Syngenta fined for selling unregistered Bt 10

Syngenta Seeds, of Minneapolis, US has agreed to pay a US$ 1.5-million penalty to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for selling and distributing seed corn that contained an unregistered genetically engineered pesticide called Bt 10.

While the Federal Government has ruled out risk to human health or environment with Bt 10 corn, it was still illegal to distribute any pesticide not registered under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

Syngenta voluntarily disclosed in 2004 that it might have unintentionally distributed the GM corn, called Bt 10, to the US, Europe and South America. An investigation into the matter by the USDA, the Food and Drug Administration and the EPA confirmed the same. A penalty was assessed by the USDA and the company destroyed all the affected seeds under the former's supervision.

Syngenta said in a statement that the Bt 10 corn was mistakenly supplied to US growers as Bt 11 corn, an approved product, between 2001 and 2004. EPA recently filed a settlement with its Environmental Appeals Board (EAB). The EAB is the final EPA decision maker on permit, enforcement, and other administrative appeals under all major environmental statutes that the agency administers.

If approved by the Board, Syngenta would have to pay the penalty.