EPA Slaps Monsanto with Record Fine

The largest fine ever given under a US pesticide law has just been levied against Monsanto. That is the good news.

The bad news is the fine is only $2.5 million. Which will eat into Monsanto's wealth like taking a teaspoon of oil from the gulf leak as a fix.

Anyway, it seems that between '00 and '07 Monsanto sold genetically modified cotton seeds in Texas counties where they are banned. They were able to do this because they didn't label the seeds and GM seeds.

EPA Slaps Monsanto with Record Fine

The seeds — known as Bollgard and Bollgard II — were genetically engineered to produce the insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), and Texas officials were concerned that using the seeds would lead to pest resistance.

But that didn't stop Monsanto from bamboozling buyers into purchasing the illegal seeds.

“As a result of this matter, we have implemented new internal review processes to prevent such errors in the future,” said Rob Nixon, Monsanto’s Stewardship Lead.

Ummmm...yeah.. forgive me if I don't really believe that Mr. Nixon.

Given Monsanto's track record and the small amount of the fine there really isn't any reason for them to clean up their act. It will take stronger legislation and hitting them deeper in the pocketbook to accomplish that.