Iowa Senator Says Additional Steps Needed to Ensure Compensation for Losses and to Rebuild Confidence in Food Supply and Biotechnology

WASHINGTON --- U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today wrote to the White House, Attorney General Janet Reno, Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, EPA Administrator Carol Browner and FDA Commissioner Jane Henney calling for additional actions responding to the problems caused by the discovery of genetically engineered StarLink corn in corn supplies and food products. In particular, Harkin urged the Federal agencies and departments to do all that they can to ensure adequate compensation for economic losses to farmers, grain elevators and merchants, the food industry and other potentially affected parties.

"Farmers and others who are on the receiving end of the StarLink fiasco should not be left holding the bag for losses they did not cause," Harkin said. "It is essential that all Federal departments and agencies that may have some enforcement or regulatory role do all they can to ensure the integrity of the biotechnology regulatory process, rebuild confidence in the safety of the food supply and U.S. agricultural exports, and provide proper compensation for StarLink-related losses."

Harkin said recent news confirming StarLink-related impacts on U.S. corn exports and market prices, along with the discovery of the StarLink protein in a variety of corn that supposedly had no connection to the StarLink varieties, confirmed that the problems and consequences caused by StarLink are far from over. Harkin demanded that all Federal departments and agencies having any enforcement or regulatory role must be actively involved and guard against any actions that might nullify or compromise the ability of farmers, grain elevators or others damaged by StarLink-related problems to obtain compensation. In particular, Harkin expressed concern whether the proposed sale or spin-off of Aventis CropScience by Aventis SA might impair full compensation for StarLink-related losses.

"As someone who sees great potential for biotechnology, especially in our state of Iowa, I am very concerned that careful handling of the StarLink situation -- and learning the lessons StarLink teaches -- is absolutely crucial to the future of agricultural biotechnology," Harkin said.

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