Thailand to destroy papaya trees in plantation suspected to have grown GM variety
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - The government has ordered all papaya trees in a plantation in northeastern Thailand to be destroyed after one fruit sample there was found to have been genetically modified, a minister said Wednesday.
The owner of the plantation in Khon Kaen province is one of 2,600 farmers who bought papaya seedlings from a nearby horticulture research station that is conducting field trials of genetically modified, or GM, papaya.
Agriculture Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said in interviews with local radio stations that officials tested 239 samples from the plantation and found only one GM papaya.
"Even though such a small amount was found I have ordered the destruction of all papaya plants,'' Somsak said.
He said he ordered the research station to immediately suspend the field experiments and to collect papaya samples from all the 2,600 farmers.
An investigation will also be conducted to find out whether the GM seeds were smuggled out of the research station or had spread by cross pollination, he said.
The Thai government does not allow commercial farming of GM crops but has been growing GM papayas at three research facilities including the one in Khon Kaen. Any farmer found to be planting genetically engineered crops faces up to two years in jail or a 4,000 baht (US$100, euro 80) fine.
Critics have expressed concerns over GM foods' possible health and environmental consequences.
The papaya in the affected plantation was tested after international environment group Greenpeace recently claimed that its tests show GM contamination in papaya in the province.
It is the second case of the spread of a genetically engineered crop after GM cotton was accidentally released from the Khon Kaen station five years ago.
According to the Bangkok Post newspaper, the research station has been growing GM papayas since 1997 in a joint project with Cornell University. The project, scheduled to be completed next June, aims to develop papaya resistant to the ringspot virus, the paper said.
News Poll
- Man posted doctored photos of Nik Aziz
- Heartbreaking wait for mum
- The world just got bigger
- Sodomy II: Judge decision on recusing himself on Feb 18
- Opposition leaders decry court’s ruling
- Thumbs-up for Najib
- 5-0 for BN’s Zambry
- Weather warning for Perak, Selangor and Sabah
- Saiful files report over death threat
- WWF: Orang asli being used
- 60 lose RM25mil in gold investment scam
- Canberra to set new skills list
- MAS offers CNY bargains
- Fleet card cloning ring busted with arrest of trio
- WWF: Orang asli being used
- Vietnamese plumber fined RM10,000 over RM75 bribe
- ‘Flashing candy’ a health hazard: Health Ministry
- Sodomy II: Judge decision on recusing himself on Feb 18
- Toyota puts the brakes on problem
- Manila joins hunt for Semporna gunmen
RSS
