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Belgian rape seed fields contaminated

04-06-2008 | |

Fifteen Belgian rape seed fields, owned by Bayer CropScience, have been contaminated by genetically modified organisms (GMOs) banned in Europe, the country’s public health ministry announced yesterday.

The Bayer subsidiary, which specialises in improving crop yields, informed
the Belgian authorities of the contamination, which happened last month during
the planting of normal rape seed.

“The conventional seed lot was
contaminated by five percent GMO rape seed,” the statement said.

A
preliminary investigation carried out by the multinational put the problem down
to “human error.”

Fields destroyed
Bayer “has taken
measures to prevent the spread of non-authorised GMOs” including the uprooting
and destruction of the young crop, which had not yet flowered or produced
grain.

The fields will be monitored for several years for signs of any
genetically modified plants.

The ministry said it would inform the
European Commission and EU member states of the matter and the remedial measures
taken.

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