Monday March 26, 6:03 am Eastern Time

Suspected GM maize seized from Monsanto in Italy

ROME, March 26 (Reuters) - Italian police have seized about 120 tonnes
of maize suspected of containing genetically engineered material from U.S.
agricultural biotechnology group Monsanto (NYSE:MON - news), a spokesman 
for the company said on Monday.

``Police were here on Friday, Saturday and today,'' Monsanto spokesman
Gabriele Fontana told Reuters from the company's warehouse in Lodi, northern 
Italy, where he estimated police had seized around 120 tonnes of U.S.-origin
maize.

``Our maize is traditional maize, but it is possible that there was some
accidental contamination by genetically altered material,'' Fontana added.

He said authorities had found traces of genetically modified material in
samples of maize stored at the Monsanto warehouse in Lodi and that further 
tests were under way.