[APWG] NEWS: Scotts fined for accidental release of genetically engineered creeping bentgrass
Olivia Kwong
plant at plantconservation.org
Tue Nov 27 11:21:55 CST 2007
A $500,000 civil penalty settlement agreement with Scotts was announced by
USDA late yesterday, with respect to the accidental release of
glyphosate-tolerant creeping bentgrass. A summary is given below, and the
full official press release is posted at:
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2007/11/0350.xml
Maximum Fine for Escape of Genetically Engineered Creeping Bentgrass:
USDA assesses The Scotts Company a $500,000 civil penalty
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) has concluded an investigation into
compliance infractions by The Scotts Company relating to still-regulated
genetically engineered glyphosate-tolerant creeping bentgrass. Creeping
bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) is a perennial now used largely for
golf course greens, tees and fairways. Scotts’ creeping bentgrass was
genetically engineered with the Monsanto Company and is resistant to the
herbicide glyphosate. Under APHIS authorization, Scotts has field
tested glyphosate-tolerant creeping bentgrass in various locations
across the United States.
Under the settlement agreement of November 26, 2007, Scotts has
agreed to pay a civil penalty of $500,000 -- the maximum allowed by the
Plant Protection Act of 2000. APHIS entered into this agreement to
resolve allegations that Scotts failed to comply with performance
standards and permit conditions for field trials of glyphosate-tolerant
creeping bentgrass and improperly moved the seed. APHIS also alleges
that Scotts failed to conduct a 2003 Oregon field trial in a manner
which ensured that glyphosate-tolerant creeping bentgrass and its
offspring would not persist in the environment. Scotts is continuing
monitoring and mitigation actions in central Oregon to locate and remove
the genetically engineered material accidentally released during the
2003 field trial. These actions were required by APHIS beginning in
2004. The current allegations address the ongoing persistence in the
environment related to the accidental release of the regulated
genetically engineered creeping bentgrass.
As a part of the settlement agreement, Scotts within a year will
conduct three public workshops for potential developers of genetically
engineered plants and other interested parties. The workshops will
focus on best management practices and technical guidance on
identification and prompt resolution of biotechnology compliance
incidents.
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