FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of April 2005
Commission File Number: 001-15152
SYNGENTA AG
(Translation of registrant’s name into
English)
Schwarzwaldallee 215
4058 Basel
Switzerland
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:
| Form 20-F X | Form 40-F |
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
| Yes | No X |
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
| Yes | No X |
Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the Registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
| Yes | No X |
If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): N/A
| Re: | SYNGENTA AG |
Press Release: “Syngenta supports EU in targeted certification program for two animal feed maize products” |
Filed herewith is a press release related to Syngenta AG. The full text of the press release follows:
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Item 1
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Syngenta International AG Media Office CH-4002 Basel Switzerland Telephone: +41 61 323 23 23 Fax: +41 61 323 24 24 www.syngenta.com |
| Media Release |
Syngenta supports EU in targeted certification program for two animal feed maize products
Basel, Switzerland, 15 April 2005
Syngenta announced today that it supports the EU in a targeted certification program for two animal feed maize products for importation from the USA. This program is intended to ensure that these two products, maize gluten and brewers grain for animal feed, are certified by an accredited laboratory not to contain Bt10.
Syngenta has been working closely with world leading and independent testing laboratory, GeneScan, as well as with the animal feed trade. The certification for EU importation is expected to be operational within a few days at US ports of departure.
“We respect the Commission’s announcement today to ensure compliance with the existing regulations, which is fundamental to maintaining consumer confidence”, said Mike Mack, Chief Operating Officer of Syngenta Seeds. “We are fully committed to continue cooperation with all concerned parties, including the EU Commission and Member States, to achieve this, including bringing this measure to its conclusion when the program is reconsidered by the Commission later this year.”
Bt10 maize is genetically modified maize that was inadvertently planted in very small amounts as Bt11 maize between 2001 and 2004. The proteins expressed by Bt10 and Bt11 are identical, with the Bt gene in a different location in the maize genome; this has no impact on the safety of the maize. Bt10 also has an antibiotic resistance marker gene, which has been approved and widely used around the world for many years, including in the European Union. This marker is not active in the plant and therefore has no impact on the safety profile of the maize.
Syngenta identified the Bt10 event using advanced DNA-based testing. The Bt10 event was found in five Bt maize breeding lines in the USA, three of which were used between 2001 and 2004 primarily for pre-commercial development. The seeds produced could have planted an estimated 37,000 acres (15,000 hectares) in the USA accumulative over the four-year time period. This equates to one-one hundredth of one percent (0.01 percent) of the annual total US maize acreage (annual US maize plantings is 80 million acres or 32 million hectares). Only around 18 percent of US maize is exported to other countries. Therefore, although it is possible that some Bt10 maize could have entered US export channels, any such amount would have been in very small volumes.
Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology. The company is a leader in crop protection, and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in 2004 were approximately $7.3 billion. Syngenta employs some 19,000 people in over 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in New York (SYT). Further information is available at www.syngenta.com.
Syngenta – 15 April 2005 / Page 1 of 2
| Media Enquiries: | Switzerland: | Markus Payer | Tel: +41 (61) 323 2323 | |||
| USA: | Sarah Hull | Tel: +1 (202) 347 8348 | ||||
| Analysts/Investors: | Switzerland: | Jonathan Seabrook | Tel: +41 (61) 323 7502 | |||
| Jennifer Gough | Tel: +41 (61) 323 5059 | |||||
| USA: | Rhonda Chiger | Tel: +1 (917) 322 2569 |
| Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements |
| This document contains forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as ‘expect’, ‘would’, ‘will’, ‘potential’, ‘plans’, ‘prospects’, ‘estimated’, ‘aiming’, ‘on track’ and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. We refer you to Syngenta's publicly available filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for information about these and other risks and uncertainties. Syngenta assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors. This document does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer, to purchase or subscribe for any ordinary shares in Syngenta AG, or Syngenta ADSs, nor shall it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract therefor. |
Syngenta – 15 April 2005 / Page 2 of 2
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| SYNGENTA AG | ||||
| Date: | April 15, 2005 | By: | /s/ Daniel Michaelis | |
| Name: | Daniel Michaelis | |||
| Title: | Senior Corporate Counsel | |||
| By: | /s/ Damian Heller | |||
| Name: | Damian Heller | |||
| Title: | Company Secretary | |||