Greenpeace has today released a report by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that recommends Mexico takes drastic steps to stop contamination from genetically modified (GM) maize. Mexico is the home of all maize varieties and the report recommends that the country keeps its moratorium on planting GM maize to protect its biodiversity. It also demands that any maize imported into Mexico from the USA be milled on entry to stop it from growing accidentally.

The report, written by experts on the NAFTA Commission for Environmental Co-operation (CEC), unanimously recommends that "all the maize imported to Mexico from Canada and the United States, that is not certified as GM-free, should be sent directly and without exception to mills for processing." In 2003, Mexico imported over 5.5 million tonnes of US maize, at least 30% of which was estimated to be GM. The US government has deliberately stalled on publishing this report since June and its findings will help bolster the European Union's case in the on-going World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute with the USA, Canada and Argentina over GM crops.

Greenpeace Campaigner Ben Ayliffe said:

"When an free-trade organisation like NAFTA starts raising concerns about GM crops, it ought to set some alarm bells ringing. It's like McDonalds saying burgers and chips aren't very good for you."

In 2003 the USA, Canada and Argentina, the world's primary exporters of GM crops, launched a complaint with the WTO against the EU for its de facto moratorium on new GM approvals. Europe's defence of its position has been based in part on scientific uncertainty regarding the environmental and human health impacts of GM crops. The NAFTA report shows that the EU is right to highlight scientific uncertainties and defend the precautionary principle on GM.

Ben Ayliffe added:

"This report recognises the environmental risks GM maize poses and could be hugely damaging for the USA's WTO case against the EU. No wonder they tried to bury it."

In addition, the leaked report may hamper the USA's efforts to force GM maize on to some countries as food aid. African countries such as Zambia rejected US GM maize unless it was milled because of the risks it could pose to their environment. The report clearly supports this demand and recommends milling of maize to reduce environmental risks.

For more information contact Greenpeace press office on 020 7865 8255 or Ben Ayliffe on 0207 865 8282