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3 november 2000
scientists slam gm research
key industry study unfit for
publication
Scientific research backing an application
for GM maize to be commercially sold to
farmers is "inadequate" a public hearing was
told today. Scientists from the University of
Bristol's Department of Clinical Veterinary
Science told the national seed list hearing
that nutrition tests on chickens, presented
by biotech company Aventis, "is inadequate in
terms of providing any evidence or
conclusions. It is not of a standard that
would be acceptable for publication in a
scientific journal". Concerns were also
raised about "suspicious" higher death rates
among chickens that ate the GM maize during
the study.
Aventis research compared broiler chickens
fed GM maize with those fed on conventional
maize. Friends of the Earth approached Dr
Steve Kestin and Dr Toby Knowles, scientists
working on chicken studies for the Ministry
of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to
peer-review it. Their conclusions
included:
• A failure to investigate "suspicious"
trends in the death of chickens fed the GM
maize (10 died) compared with those fed
conventional maize (5 died). This, they
said "suggests either a fault in the study
or a real direct effect of diet...and
should act as a spur for further
investigation";
• That there were "far too few" replicates
used in the study. Only 4 replicates were
used, as opposed to the minimum of 14
recommended by the independent scientists.
Using such a small number would be "one of
the best methods...to show no effect";
• The absence of a positive control
(feeding maize to 3, instead of 2, groups
of chickens) was a "major flaw in the
design of the study".
During the hearing, leading experts have
already questioned Aventis' scientific
evidence for the marketing of this GM forage
maize . In particular, they have expressed
concern over the failure to test the GM maize
on cows (for whom it's being produced).
Tony Juniper, Policy and Campaigns
Director at Friends of the Earth said: "Once
again the ‘sound science' of the biotech
industry has been found sadly wanting. This
shoddy study should never have been submitted
to support the case for this GM maize to be
granted a commercial licence. The fact that
it was, and the Government did nothing about
it, is a scandal. When will we learn the
lessons of BSE?”
"It's high time the cosy and unquestioning
relationship between the biotech industry and
Government was ended. The well-being of the
public, health and environment must be put
above vested interest and profit. Aventis can
start today by withdrawing this GM
application."
Speaking after the hearing, Dr Kestin
commented: "It's astonishing that this study
has not been assessed and found wanting by
the Government, and that it's been left to
Friends of the Earth to have it properly
reviewed".
Earlier this week the continuation of the
hearing was put in severe doubt when the
Government revealed that official basic tests
on Chardon LL, carried out by the French
authorities, had only been conducted for one
year rather than the two required under EU
law.
In April, the Government announced its
intention to allow Chardon LL, which has been
genetically modified to be resistant to
Aventis' own herbicide, on to the national
seed list. This is the final legal barrier
before a GM seed can be sold to farmers. This
would have been the first GM crop to have
been added to the list. However, FOE
discovered a little-known law which gave the
public the right to appeal against the
decision. Sixty seven groups and individuals
have paid £60 to have their objections heard
in public, with hundreds more filing written
objections (which cost £30). The National
Seed List hearing started on 2 October and is
scheduled to last about 9 weeks. Aventis is
refusing to produce any evidence at the
hearing.
MORE INFORMATION:
Neil Verlander Press Office
Friends of the Earth England, Wales,
Northern Ireland
Tel: 00 44 20 7566 1649
Fax: 00 44 20 7490 0881
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