From Bio Journal - December 2001
GM Seed Contamination Discovered in Japan
Oct. 19, 2001, Stop GM Seeds Network Japan announced that they had found the
unapproved GM corn "StarLink" in fodder maize seeds imported from the US for
domestic cultivation purpose in Japan. Stop GM Seeds Network Japan tested 12
seeds, 4 of which were contaminated. The test results show that 3 of
the 4 GM contaminated seeds were contaminated with 2 different types of GM genes
in each seed. Japan has given approval for domestic cultivation for feed use
only for Monsanto's GA21 (Glyphosate tolerant maize), not for Aventis' CBH351SL
(also known as "StarLink"). Moreover, the government of Japan only allows
marketing of seeds for cultivation use for single genetically modified crops, not multiple
genetically modified crops.
Masaharu Kawata, Assistant Professor of the School of Science, Nagoya University,
Japan, voiced his concern that since seed purity is strictly controlled,
multiple seed contamination during the distribution process is unthinkable. Thus, the only way
this kind of seed contamination can occur is through the spread of GM pollen on farms by
insects and the wind.
MHLW Starts GMO Tests on Animals
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) has started to feed GMOs to
animals as a part of its scientific program. This animal testing will be conducted by a
research team lead by Dr. Tomoyuki Shirai at the medical department of the
University of Nagoya City. According to the Inspection and Safety Division,
Department of Food Safety, Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau, MHLW, the
animal tests have two different purposes. One purpose is to establish a method for
safety assessment, and the second purpose is to see if GMOs are actually
safe or not. The safety assessment will evaluate only the acute virulence, not
chronic virulence. The GM crop to be used in the tests is herbicide tolerant maize
developed by Aventis.
 (English Index)
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