Monsanto pleads guilty to using banned pesticide on research cropThe Monsanto logo on a building at the firm's Manufacturing Site and Operations Centre. (AFP filephoto)LOS ANGELES: Biotech giant Monsanto on Thursday agreed to plead guilty to illegally using a banned and highly toxic pesticide on research crops at one of its facilities on the Hawaiian island of Maui and to pay US$10 million in fines. "The illegal conduct in this case posed a threat to the environment, surrounding communities and Monsanto workers," said Nick Hanna, the United States Attorney for the Central District of California, whose office handled the case. The plea calls for Monsanto to pay a $6 million criminal fine and $4 million in community service payments to Hawaiian government entities. Hanna's office said the government agreed to dismiss felony charges in two years if Monsanto abides by the plea agreement.

Source: Bangkok Post November 22, 2019 03:45 UTC