Source: press
Greenpeace dismisses WTO ruling and predicts Europe will stay closed to GMOs
Brussels, 7 February 2006 - Greenpeace tonight dismissed as irrelevant a
WTO ruling that reportedly backs the US, Canada and Argentina in their
efforts to force Europe to accept genetically modified organisms (GMOs);
according to first press reports, the WTO decided that EU national bans
contravened trade rules. The environmental organisation considers that
just as the WTO case did not challenge EU laws designed to protect the
environment, it could not be used to undermine existing international
agreements on biosafety.
"U.S agro-chemical giants will not sell a bushel more of their GM grain
as a result of the WTO ruling. European consumers, farmers and a growing
number of governments remain opposed to GMOs, and this will not change -
in Europe or globally," said Daniel Mittler, Greenpeace International
trade advisor. "The $300 million lost exports for US GM maize growers
per year (1) will continue, and remain a warning to exporting countries
that GMOs are not wanted in Europe."
"This verdict only proves that the WTO puts trade interests above all
others and is unqualified to deal with complex scientific and
environmental issues. The US administration and agro-chemical companies
brought the case in a desperate attempt to force-feed markets with GMOs,
but will continue to be frustrated," said Daniel Mittler.
In August 2003, the US, Canada and Argentina took the EU to the WTO for
suspending approvals for biotech products, and for six member states'
national bans on EU-approved GMOs.
Despite the ongoing case in Geneva, European governments voted with a
clear majority in 2005 to retain existing national bans on GMOs (2) and
individual countries continue to reject GMOs. Greece last week announced
an extension of its ban on seeds from a type of GM maize produced by
Monsanto. Austria also recently announced its intention to ban the
import of a GM oilseed rape. These bans, in addition to those imposed
last year by Hungary and Poland, 172 regions in Europe which have
declared themselves GMO-free zones, and a Swiss moratorium decided by
public referendum, show that Europe is steadfast in rejecting GMOs.
EU legislation on the approval and labelling of GMOs is not at stake and
will remain unaffected by the outcome of the WTO case.
Notes
1. The US claims $200 million lost sales for corn products alone, $300
million for corn and soy products. See "European Commission Opts Not To
Push For End of GMO Moratorium," INSIDE U.S. TRADE, January 25, 2002 ;
or http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/wrs984/wrs984e.pdf
2. The EU Commission tried to use the WTO case to force five European
countries (Greece, France, Austria, Luxembourg and Germany) attacked by
the US to lift their national bans (Italy, the sixth, lifted its ban two
years ago). When the EU Commission put its proposals aimed at the
lifting of bans to a vote at the EU Council of Environment ministers on
24 June 2005, 22 countries out of 25 voted against the Commission's
proposals and decided that the bans were justified and should remain in
place. This forced the EU Commission to withdraw its proposals.
Greenpeace briefing on national safeguard clauses ('bans'):
http://eu.greenpeace.org/downloads/gmo/NationalBans0507.pdf
Source: press
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