testbiotech

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30 Years of genetically engineered plants - Consequences of commercial growing in the US

Munich/ Berlin 01.02.2013 Today in Berlin a new report was published presenting a critical assessment of the consequences of the commercial cultivation of genetically engineered plants in the US. The first genetically engineered plants were created 30 years ago in Europe and the US. Commercial growing in the USA began almost 20 years ago, but in the EU, acceptance of these crops is much lower. Nevertheless, companies are asking for further authorisations for cultivation, including in the EU. In the light of this development, past experience in the USA was assessed and recommendations made for the future handling of this technology in the EU. Some of the principal findings are:

Genetically engineered maize ready for India? Monsanto data show huge gaps

Munich/ New Delhi 29.01.13 Testbiotech analysed data on the genetically engineered maize MON89034 x NK603 presented by the US company Monsanto to the Indian authorities. The plants, so called stacked events, are produced by crossing two genetically engineered plants. The maize produces two insecticidal toxins and is herbicide-tolerant. One of the insecticidal proteins is derived from a synthetic DNA that does not occur in nature.

Illegal imports of genetically engineered maize into the EU?

SmartStax produces six different insecticides

Thursday, 20 December 2012

Munich/Brussels

Munich/ Brussels 20 December 2012. Testbiotech has informed the new Commissioner Tonio Borg about its suspicions that the genetically engineered maize, SmartStax, has been imported into the EU for years without legal authorisation. It is a joint Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences product, which produces six insecticidal proteins and is tolerant to two herbicides. SmartStax was assessed by the European Food Safety Authority EFSA in 2010, but the results of the assessment were controversial and the maize was not authorised.

Opposition filed against patent on chimpanzees

Patent violates ethical boundaries of European patent law

Thursday, 15 November 2012

Munich

Eleven organisations from Germany, Switzerland and Great Britain have filed a joint opposition against a patent on genetically engineered chimpanzees granted to the US company Intrexon. Patent EP1456346 was granted by the European Patent Office (EPO) in February 2012. The animals will be manipulated with synthetic DNA originating from insects and are intended for use in pharmaceutical research. The joint opposition argues that this patent violates ethical provisions in patent law.