MONTREAL (AFP)--Canadian consumer and environmental groups
protested Thursday the government's decision to allow the sale of a
genetically modified corn.
The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, or CBAN, demanded
that Ottawa "immediately withdraw authorization for SmartStax," a
genetically engineered corn, "until Health Canada undertakes
exhaustive and independent tests."
Greenpeace Canada also raised concerns, saying: "Releasing
'SmartStax' without evaluating safety, just a day after the release
of the blistering report on the listeriosis crisis, confirms deep
structural problems and government mismanagement of GE foods and
crops."
The GM crop, produced by Monsanto Co. (MON) and Dow
AgroSciences, was approved 15 days ago by the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency.
Christelle Legault, a spokeswoman for the ministry of health,
said the modifications present in Smartstax were examined
separately between 2002 and 2008 and were regarded as safe.
The CBAN warned the modifications must be tested together to
gauge the product's safety.
SmartStax contains two genetic modifications increasing
resistance to weed killers and six to protect it from insects.