News Release ETC Group
May 31, 2007 www.etcgroup.org

Bill to Ban Terminator Introduced in Canada

A bill to prohibit field testing and commercialization of Terminator
seed technology was introduced in the Canadian Parliament today.
Terminator refers to plants that are genetically engineered to render
sterile seeds at harvest - a technology that aims to maximize seed
industry profits by preventing farmers from re-planting harvested seed.

  "Canada needs to pass this bill into law because genetic seed
sterilization is dangerous and blatantly anti-farmer - suicide seeds
threaten to intensify corporate control over Canadian agriculture and
offer no benefits for farmers," said Colleen Ross of the National
Farmers Union.

Initially developed by the US Department of Agriculture and
multinational seed companies, "suicide seeds" have not been
commercialized anywhere in the world due to an avalanche of opposition
from farmers, indigenous peoples, civil society and some governments.
In 2000, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity
recommended a de facto moratorium on field-testing and commercial sale
of Terminator seeds; the moratorium was re-affirmed in 2006. India and
Brazil have already passed national laws to prohibit the technology.

"Canada has led a behind-the-scenes push to undermine the United
Nations moratorium," points out Pat Mooney, Executive Director of the
Ottawa-based ETC Group, "so it's time the Canadian Government listened
to the people."

"Researchers are continuing to develop and win patents on Terminator
because seed sterility is simply too lucrative for industry to
abandon," said Lucy Sharratt of the Canadian Biotechnology Action
Network. "A national law to prohibit the technology is the only way to
insure that Terminator is never commercialized in Canada. The
Government of Canada must show its commitment to the international
community and not bow to industry pressure," said Sharratt.

The full text of the Canadian bill will be available here on June 1:
www.banterminator.org/canada

For further information:
Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network,
tel: +1 613 241 2267 email: coordinator@cban.ca

Hope Shand, ETC Group, tel: +1 919 960 5223   email: hope@etcgroup.org