Greenpeace sues Thailand over genetically modified papaya
Greenpeace sued the Department of Agriculture (DOA) Wednesday for what it described as widespread contamination of Thai farms by genetically engineered papaya.
The environmental group is seeking punishment of officials who allowed the illegal distribution of genetically modified (GMO) papaya seeds to farmers across Thailand.
"We decided to sue DOA because we have been waiting for more than two years for them to do their duties," said Patwajee Srisuwan, a genetic engineering campaigner for Greenpeace Southeast Asia.
The group also wants the DOA to revoke an order allowing open field trials of GMO papaya and for the department to perform additional decontamination of papaya plants tainted by the genetically engineered fruit, she said.
"Greenpeace tried every means to get the DOA to stop this massive GMO papaya contamination and end all GMO field trials, but the DOA and related government agencies failed to act to protect public interest," Patwajee said.
Thailand has pushed the GMO research in hopes of improving crops by making papaya more resistant to disease.
The first spread of the seeds was found last year in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen, after Greenpeace accused the government of illegally selling the seeds from a research station there.
The environmental group filed a complaint with the rights commission, alleging the spread of the seeds violated the rights of farmers and consumers, damaged the environment, and breached a 2001 law that banned field trials of genetically modified organisms, known as GMOs.
Thailand's Human Rights Commission said in September that the genetically modified seeds had spread to one third of 31 papaya orchards in four provinces they surveyed in July.
"The GMO papaya contamination must serve as a lesson to all government agencies who are conducting GMO experiments. GMOs pose threats to the health, environment and livelihood of the Thai people," Patwajee said.
The cabinet in 2001 banned GMO field trials. Current law forbids the public sale of GMO seeds and requires products containing more than five percent of a genetically modified ingredient to be clearly labelled.
Source: The Nation Oct. 30, 2006