US admits accidental export of illegal GE corn to NZ
Bt10 has been exported instead of Bt11.
28/03/05 Authorities approving GE food imports into New Zealand are being questioned over the import of an illegal form of GE maize that US authorities say they have been accidentally selling and exporting for the last four years.
Announcements by US authorities and Syngenta published in Nature reveals that Bt11 maize seeds had become confused with Bt10- a form of GE maize not approved by authorities. By mistake Bt10 has been sold in the US and exported overseas.
The US authorities have refused to say which countries may have imported the illegal seeds as food or for planting, but New Zealand/ Australian authorities have been asked to urgently investigate by GE Free NZ in food and environment.
Although the Bt10 crop is believed by Syngenta and US authorities promoting GE food to be 'safe', the fact that it was sold for years by accident only adds to concerns that biotechnology firms are losing control over their activities.
