On Monday 30th July 2001, Greenpeace erected a large concrete sculpture of Brazil's federal constitution in front the of the Ministry of Agriculture in Brasilia to remind Minister Marcus Vinicius Pratini de Moraes that he is not legally authorised to approve the commercial growing of Monsanto's genetically modified (GM) Roundup-Ready soybeans. The Minister had announced last week that he would issue a permit for such growing in due time before Brazil's planting season in September 2001. The president of the Brazilian Association of Federal Judges, Judge Flavio Dino, echoed Greenpeace's warning to the Agriculture Minister saying, "If he does this, the minister will certainly be breaking the law and be subject to face legal penalties. It is a crime". The Judge continued "We are alerting the government to avoid a confrontational situation between the Federal Justice and the Ministry. We hope that the General Advocacy of the Union and the Ministry of the Environment will examine this situation better".
Greenpeace GM campaigner Mariana Paoli in Brazil said:
"This is not the first time that Minister Pratini de Moraes has promised to approve Monsanto's genetically engineered crops; but even Ministers have to respect the Constitution of this country."
She continued:
"Brazil does not need and it does not want Monsanto's Roundup Ready soybeans with their environmental risks and uncertainties".
The Regional Federal Court, in response to legal action by Greenpeace and the consumer organisation IDEC, had clearly determined, that the Brazilian Constitution required a full environmental impact assessment as well as coherent labelling laws, before any releases of GM crops could be approved. Following the judgement, any public or private agent who breaks the decision will be subject to a fine of $10,000 per day, and face other legal penalties.
While the Brazilian government had issued some labelling legislation earlier this month in the form of a preliminary decree, there still are no valid terms of reference for the environmental impact assessment required. Subsequently no such assessment has been undertaken on Monsanto's Roundup Ready, nor any other GM crops.
Greg Muttit, GM campaigner in London, said:
"Brazil is the principal supplier of non GM soya for Britain and the rest of Europe. They have safeguarded consumer choice and gained commercial advantage by providing a product which consumers want".
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Greenpeace press office on: 020 7865 8255
