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A dialogue-meeting between the GMO free Network of the regional and local Autorities of Europe and the EU Commissions DG AGRI will be held on the subject of coexistence of genetically modified crops with traditional and organic farming in Brussels on September 28th at the Central Italian Region's bureau in Brussels.Further information: riccardo.russu@arsia.toscana.it

On 3 September 2005, farmers from Yamagata Prefecture and consumers from Miyagi Prefecture gathered in Sendai city in Miyagi, and set up the "GMO Free Zone Declaration - Tohoku Network" (Rep. Nobuyuki Nakagawa, Takahata Conference for Promotion of Organic Agriculture). It was the first fully-fledged trans-regional GMO Free Zone declaration in Japan. On the same day, the network adopted a protest appeal to oppose Tohoku University's iron-deficiency tolerant GM rice field trials.</p><p><a href="http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~cbic/english/index.html">Bio-Journal</a>

An international conference on this issue was organised by Consumers International and the Region of Emilia-Romana. About 450 people from Europe, the USA and Asia attended and discussed scientific evidence on GM contamination and political strategies how to avoid it.</p><a href="http://www.consumersinternational.org/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=94114&int1stParentNodeID=89650&int2ndParentNodeID=89677&int3rdParentNodeID=92710&int4thParentNodeID=92710&int5thParentNodeID=92710&int6thParentNodeID=92710&int7thParentNodeID=92710&int8thParentNodeID=92710&strSubSite=1&strLHSMenu=89650">Consumers International - Appeal to EC and world for caution over GMO contamination</a></p><p><a href="http://www.foodconsumer.org/777/8/_GMO_and_consumer_experts_converge_in_Bologna.shtml">foodconsumers report</a></p><p><a href="http://www.consumersinternational.org/Templates/News.asp?NodeID=94236&int1stParentNodeID=89650&int2ndParentNodeID=89677">Conference website at Consumer International</a>

Ukraine's Farm Ministry said it would ask the government and the parliament to ban imports and planting of genetically modified soybeans in the country.</p><p><a href="http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/32416/story.htm">Reuters: Ukraine Agriculture Ministry Seeks to Ban GMO Soy Imports</a>

Around 500 ha of GM maize have been grown in the South-West of France with EU approved GMO varieties (Monsanto's Mon810). As there is no French law on GM growing and co-existence in place yet the growing appears to be legal. The public is taken by surprise.</p><p><a href="http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyID=2005-09-06T165944Z_01_MOL661056_RTRIDST_0_SCIENCE-FOOD-FRANCE-GMOS-DC.XML">Science Reuters: French farmers head for gene maize harvest</a></p><p><a href="http://www.lefigaro.fr/sciences/20050906.FIG0248.html?070442">Figaro: OGM : déjà un millier d'hectares en France</a>

After the EU Commission has ubber stamped imports of GM oilseed rape GT73 in August Irish farmers are concerned about their GM free status. The cattle and sheep farmers call for a national import ban on the GM rape seed.</p><p><a href="http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=154815916&p=y548y66zz">IOL: Farmers call for ban on imports of GM rape-seed oil</a>

A Pan Balkan Congress on 26-27 November 2005 is planned on the subject: "Biodiversity, rural growth for clean environment free of G.M.O. - GMO free Balkans" by various NGOs of the Region. A preparatory meeting will be held in Thessaloniki September 10th. Contact: nogmo_balkan_soon@yahoo.gr</p><p><a href="http://www.gmo-free-regions.org/Downloads/gmofree_balkan_announce.pdf">Announcement and invitation</a>

The European Commission has authorised the genetically modified oilseed rape GT73 for import and processing as animal feed. The authorisation is complemented by a recommendation to Monsanto on how to deal with accidental spillage if it should occur. 13 member states had voted against the approval, 6 in favour and 6 abstained. In June the Commission had to repeal an initial version of this authorisation for legal reasons.</p><p><a href="http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1077&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en">Press release: GMOs: Commission authorises import of GM-oilseed rape for use in animal feed</a></p><p><a href="http://www.foeeurope.org/press/2005/HH_31_August_gmo.htm">Friends of the Earth: European Commission opens door to genetic contamination</a></p><p><a href="http://www.saveourseeds.org/dossier/fact_sheet_GT73.htm">Background: SOS Dossier on GT73</a></p><p><a href="http://www.gmo-free-regions.org/Downloads/nature_e_progres_1sept05.pdf">Nature et progres: Un non-sens environnemental, un non-sens économique (Fr)</a>

The European Commission has authorised the genetically modified oilseed rape GT73 for import and processing as animal feed. The authorisation is complemented by a recommendation to Monsanto on how to deal with accidental spillage if it should occur. 13 member states had voted against the approval, 6 in favour and 6 abstained. In June the Commission had to repeal an initial version of this authorisation for legal reasons.</p><p><a href="http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1077&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en">Press release: GMOs: Commission authorises import of GM-oilseed rape for use in animal feed</a></p><p><a href="http://www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-143619-16&type=News">EurActiv: European Commission approves GT73 amid safety doubts</a></p><p><a href="http://www.saveourseeds.org/dossier/fact_sheet_GT73.htm">Background: SOS Dossier on GT73</a>

Christian Ude, the mayor of Munich, Germany's second largest city and capital of Bavaria has officially signed the GMO free Regions petition.</p><p><a href="http://www.gmo-free-regions.org/petition.html">GMO free regions petition</a>