French farmers found guilty of GM corn sabotage

19 February 1998

French farmers found guilty of GM corn sabotage

THREE French farmers were given suspended sentences of up to eight months and provisionally fined FF500,000 (&163;50,000) for sabotaging genetically altered corn owned by Novartis.

The three ripped open sacks, causing damage estimated at Ffr6 million,
in the first direct protest against the introduction in France of the corn.

They are members of a militant organisation which backs traditional farming
methods.

The French Government approved the cultivation of genetically modified corn
last November after much agonising.

• Financial Times 19/02/98 page 2