The Farmers' Legal Action Group-South Africa welcomes the announcement today by the
African Centre for Biosafety that the Executive Council acting under the Genetically Modified Organisms Act has rejected an application by Biological Control Products SA (Pty) Ltd, to test a genetically modified mosquitocide developed by the Ben Gurion University.
Scientific experts conclude that experience has shown that mosquitocides typically cause more long-term problems than they solve. Mosquitoes always develop resistance, enabling them to multiply in ever-larger numbers in a losing battle known in scientific circles as "the pesticide treadmill." The use of bats, fish frogs and other natural predators is considered the safer option. A single bat can consume 3000 mosquitoes in one night. Horse farmers have also found bats useful for preventing horse sickness caused by flying insects.
The mosquitocide contains the controversial Monsanto patented
npt11 antibiotic resistant gene which the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has been supporting. Anti-biotic marker genes were supposed to have been phased out in terms of European Union Directive 2001/18EC and Revising Directive 90/220/CEE.
The EFSA claims, against all medical and veterinary evidence, that this water soluble antibiotic is insignificant.
More recently the
EFSA supported Monsanto in concealing safety studies from public scrutiny until a German Court Order finally forced Monsanto to release the full report on rats which suffered liver damage eating Monsanto's MON863 GM maize.
The EFSA has been severely criticised by the European Veterinary and Medical Council for downplaying the role of Monsanto's patented anti-biotic resistant marker gene npt11. This gene is resistant to the water soluble antibiotic aminoglycide commonly known as the terramycin, neomycin. streptomycin etc. (All the mycins) It is therefore used extensively in aquaculture, ostrich, quail, pigeon, rabbit, chick, piglet and calve rearing industries.
Monsanto have been using this gene in a number of products including the highly controversial GM potato which was banned in Egypt and moved to South Africa for testing.
The controversy about the GM Potato started in Egypt when researchers (Toxins Volume 6, Issue 6, 1998. Pages: 219-233) found that GM potatoes caused damage to part of the small intestine in rats.