28/2/2001

Monsanto Admits Breach of Gene Technology Guidelines. Aventis (5: 14 PM AEST February 28, Australian Broadcasting Service (ABC)

The multinational crop company, Monsanto, has admitted to breaching Federal guidelines for conducting gene technology trials. The Interim Office of the Gene Technology Regulator has found Monsanto and another company, Aventis, did not carry out adequate clean up procedures at 11 Tasmanian sites used for trials of genetically engineered canola. The findings have outraged the Tasmanian Government, which is investigating if there are any grounds for prosecution under state quarantine laws. Spokesman for Monsanto, Brian Arnst, says regrowth of trialled canola plants was found at two of the company's sites during a federal government check. He says Monsanto has been quick to fix the problem. "These plants have subsequently been destroyed and the remedial monitoring as suggested by the office of the GTR, we have adopted that obviously straight away," he said.