The German group Bayer apologized on Sunday after revelations in France of illegal posting on behalf of its subsidiary Monsanto hundreds of personalities regarding their position on GMOs in particular.
"After a first analysis, we understand that such a project has caused concern and criticism," wrote the German agro-chemical group, which last year finalized the acquisition of the US giant of pesticides and GMOs. "This is not the way in which Bayer would seek to engage with different interest groups and society and we apologize accordingly," he added, saying "do not tolerate any action that is contrary to ethics ".
Bayer wants to cooperate with French judicial authorities
Bayer at the same time felt that it did not see "at the moment" any evidence that lists made for Monsanto broke the law. Nevertheless, the German group says it wants to instruct a law firm to examine the file in more detail and to indicate to all the persons appearing on these controversial files what information has been gathered concerning them. Bayer says he also wants to cooperate with the French judicial authorities.
French justice has opened an investigation into suspicions of illegal registration on behalf of the US giant Monsanto of hundreds of personalities and media, including their position vis-à-vis glyphosate, GMOs, or their propensity to be influenced. This investigation follows a complaint filed by the daily Le Monde and one of his journalists, which appeared in the offending files. It refers in particular to the head of "collection of personal data by fraudulent means, disloyal or unlawful" in its investigations.
74 "priority targets"
Monsanto secretly had lists produced by the Fleishman Hillard communications agency. There are hundreds of politicians, scientists and journalists, including their position on pesticides, their level of support for Monsanto, their hobbies, but also their addresses and phone numbers, according to a survey of France 2. A table also highlights 74 "priority targets" divided into four groups: the "allies", the "potential allies to recruit", the personalities "to educate" and those "to watch".