Japanese Consumer's Union Finds GM Canola Growing in Chiba Prefecture

Copyright Seikatsu Club Consumers' Co-operative Union

The Seikatsu Club Consumers' Co-operative Union (SCCU) of Japan conducted a survey, on April 14 and 16, 2009, and an analysis of canola plants for potential spread of genetically modified varieties near the port of Chiba, one of the nation's major distribution centers for shipping canola seeds, as well as in the city itself. The SCCU discovered that five out of seven samples found growing in the city and two out of three near the port tested positive for genetic alteration.

This finding confirms the fact that genetically modified (GM) canola is growing in the vicinity of canola off-loading ports and oil factories, and along major transport arteries across Japan. Canola is a very robust plant and easily cross-pollinates with other varieties. Annually, 2.3 million tons of canola seeds are imported to Japan as raw material for cooking oil and livestock feed, and it is said that about 60 percent is now GM, because these GM rapeseeds are being spilled during transport and spreading at a surprising speed.

The SCCU intends to make efforts to conduct further surveys so that it can present the results of the survey, conducted by citizens, at the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 10) to be held in Nagoya City in 2010.

Spread of Genetically Modified Canola Confirmed across Japan (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/025870.html
Seikatsu Club Consumers' Co-operative Union official website
http://www.seikatsuclub.coop/english/

Posted: 2009/12/16 06:00:15 AM