1.GLOBAL: RECENT ADDITIONS/UPDATES TO THE GM CONTAMINATION REGISTER
2.AUSTRALIA: Register of GM-Free Farms, Businesses & Councils launched
3.MEXICO: Dispersal of Transgenes through Maize Seed Systems 

NOTE: Item 3 points yet again to the contamination in Mexico that was so vigorously denied. For the definitive account of the industry's dirty tricks campaign to suppress the truth about the contamination of Mexican maize - see: Immoral Maize
http://www.spinprofiles.org/index.php/Immoral_Maize:_Extract_from_Don't_Worry,_I t's_Safe_to_Eat_by_Andrew_Rowell
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1.GLOBAL: RECENT ADDITIONS/UPDATES TO THE CONTAMINATION REGISTER
http://www.gmcontaminationregister.org/

20 January 2009 
India Rice contaminated at centre of origin

19 January 2009 
Germany - GM maize (MIR604 and Mon88017) found in dog food

12 January 2009 
Finland Bt63 rice found in rice vermicelli

6 January 2009 
Germany Bt63 rice from China identified at EU border

30th December 2008 Update 
Germany - Maize in MIR604 found in petfood from United States

29 December 2008 Update 
Germany - unauthorised genetically modified rice (including Bt63) found

19 December 2008 Update 
UK - presence of unapproved GM in conventional oilseed rape trial

12 December 2008 Update 
LLRICE601 found in Germany for a third time in 2008

3rd December 2008 
USA - Monsanto notifies US government of GM cotton contamination

November 2008 
Mexico - further evidence of GM contamination in Mexican maize landraces

October 2008 
Chile cultivated maize contaminated with transgenic DNA. 

20th October 2008 
The Netherlands - unauthorised genetically modified maize, MIR604 found
11th September 2008 

Norway - unauthorised genetically modified Bt63 rice found

For individual links to each contamination incident, go to http://www.gmcontaminationregister.org/
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2.AUSTRALIA: Register of GM-Free Farms, Businesses & Councils launched
Gene Ethics Alert, June 8 2009

Gene Ethics today launches a new national register of GM-free goods, services and locations at http://www.geneethics.org. The google map is a work in progress and many more listings will be posted soon.

"Our interactive register is a public service, particularly to help shoppers find and support GM-free products and services," says Gene Ethics Director, Bob Phelps.

"The enterprises on the google map are committed to excluding anything made using Genetic Manipulation (GM) techniques from their products, services and facilities.

"GM products may include GM soy or corn imported mainly to feed animals, or Australian GM canola or cottonseed products."

"The growing number of local government areas with GM-free policies are also listed.

"We also note that most of Australia remains GM-free, including Tasmania, South Australia, the ACT and the Northern territory.

"The few GM canola growers, far outnumbered by the supporters of GM-free, will also be shown on the map.

"GM canola contamination from their farms poses unacceptable hazards to public health, our environments and markets.

"GM takes away our right to choose GM-free and most farmers and shoppers will not accept this," Mr Phelps concludes.

More comment: Bob Phelps 03 9889 1717 (H) 0449 769 066 (M) 03 9347 4500 (O)
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3.MEXICO: Dispersal of Transgenes through Maize Seed Systems in Mexico 

PLoS ONE 4(5): e5734. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0005734
Dyer GA, Serratos-Hernández JA, Perales HR, Gepts P, Piñeyro-Nelson A, et al. (2009) 
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0005734 

Abstract 

Objectives: Current models of transgene dispersal focus on gene flow via pollen while neglecting flow in centers of crop origin and diversity. We analyze the dispersal of maize transgenes via seeds in Mexico, the crop's cradle. 

Methods: We use immunoassays (ELISA) to screen for the activity of recombinant proteins in a seed stocks. We estimate critical parameters of seed population dynamics using household survey estimates with analytical results to examine presumed sources and mechanisms of dispersal. 

Results: Recombinant proteins Cry1Ab/Ac and CP4/EPSPS were found in 3.1% and 1.8% of most abundant in southeast Mexico but also present in the west-central region. Diffusion of seed United States might explain the frequency and distribution of transgenes in west-central Mexico but not in the southeast. 

Conclusions: Understanding the potential for transgene survival and dispersal should help design diffusion of germplasm into local seed stocks. Further research is needed on the interactions seed systems and grain markets in centers of crop origin and diversification.