Syngenta fined for introducing unauthorised GM corn into US

April 8, 2005

Agence France  Presse English [via Agnet]

BASEL, Switzerland - The Swiss agrochemicals  group Syngenta was cited as 
saying Friday that it had been fined 375,000 dollars  (292,000 euros) by US 
authorities over the unauthorised release of genetically  modified corn in the 
United States.

The fine followed the sale of "very small amounts" of Bt10-type corn, which 
is not approved in the United States, under the label of the authorised Bt11 
line between 2001 and 2004, the company said in a statement.

Mike Mack, chief operating officer of Syngenta Seeds, was quoted as saying 
the company welcomed "the government's conclusion that Syngenta's 
misidentification of Bt10 corn, while a regrettable mistake,  does not pose 
any risks to consumers, public health or the environment".