Thailand bans the release of genetically engineered crops

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Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa)
April 06, 2001

Bangkok (dpa) - International environmentalist organization Greenpeace on Friday praised the Thai government's decision to stop field trials of genetically-modified (GM) crops in the country currently underway. "With this decision Thailand takes the lead in Asia to protect its environment, biodiversity and farmers from genetic pollution," said a Greenpeace statement released in Bangkok.

The Thai cabinet earlier this week instructed the Ministry of Agriculture to halt its approvals for GM field trials.

The decision should mark the end of trials of GM corn and GM cotton by Monsanto. Thailand had already banned all commercial growing of GM crops on its territory.

"We demand that Monsanto respect this decision and terminate their existing field trials," said Jiragorn Gajaseni, executive director of Greenpeace/Southeast Asia.

Thailand bans the release of genetically engineered crops into the environment
Bangkok/London, 6th April 2001
Greenpeace today applauded the Thai Government’s decision to stop the release of all Genetically Engineered (GE) crops into the environment and no longer allow any GE field trials in Thailand. With this decision Thailand takes the lead in Asia to protect its environment, biodiversity and farmers from genetic pollution.

The cabinet of the Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra decided to instruct the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to halt all approvals for GE field trials (1). The decision should also mark the end of ongoing field trials on GE cotton and GE corn, conducted by agribusiness giant Monsanto, the second largest seed provider in Thailand (2). Thailand has already banned all commercial growing of GE crops on its territory (3).

“Thailand’s biodiversity is unique and precious. It is our culture, our food and our future. Greenpeace congratulates this Government action to protect our food and fields from the dangers of genetic engineering and encourages other ASEAN governments to follow. We demand that Monsanto respects this decision and terminates their existing field trials,” said ecologist Dr Jiragorn Gajaseni, Executive Director of Greenpeace South East Asia.

By making this bold decision Thailand can avoid the environmental and economic problems already being experienced by those countries that have adopted GE crops. In Canada GE canola is developing into a major weed problem, which requires the use of conventional toxic herbicides for removal. In the United States over a billion dollars have been spent trying to recall a genetically engineered potentially allergenic Starlink corn, which contaminated 430 million bushels of harvest.

In order to truly assure Thailand’s GE free status, Greenpeace calls on the government to now urgently check and control remaining imports of genetically engineered food and commodities, such as corn and soybeans from the US.

“Thailand has taken the first step to protect Asia from the threat of genetic engineering. The message is clear: The only way to prevent genetic pollution from GE crops is never to plant them in the first place,” said Auaiporn Suthonthanyakorn, Greenpeace GE campaigner for South East Asia.

For more information: In Thailand: Auaiporn Suthonthanyakorn, Greenpeace Genetic Engineering Campaigner, Thailand, Mob: +6618207006; Isabelle Meister, Greenpeace International GE campaigner, Mob: +41794184455; Greenpeace International Press Office, Teresa Merilainen, Tel: +31205236637 {http://www.greenpeace.org }http://www.greenpeace.org

Decision of the Prime Minister 50/2001, made on 3 April is an instruction and it translates: the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative to halt all GE crop field trials. On the same day it was decided to set up a panel to draft a biosafety act, farmers, consumers and academics will participate in this panel.

(2) In 2000, the two GE crops allowed for field testing in Thailand were Monsanto's Bt (bacillus thuriengiensis) Bollgard cotton and Monsanto's Bt corn, both genetically engineered to kill insects. For the Bt Bollgard cotton, Monsanto has a permit to conduct field trials for this and the next year. Monsanto’s field trials have been contested by Thai farmers’ organisations and environmental groups.

(3) In October 1999, the Thai Economic Policy Committee decided to ban the import of GE seeds for commercial cultivation, but continued to allow research-oriented imports. The ban will continue until GMOs are scientifically proven to be safe.

Teresa Merilainen Media Officer Greenpeace International Keizersgracht 176 1016 DW Amsterdam The Netherlands Tel: ++31-20-5236637 Gsm: ++31-(0)625031001 E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Fax: ++31-20-523 6212