EU allows two GMO derived cotton oils to market
Date: 20-Dec-02
Country: BELGIUM
Author: Robin Pomeroy
The oils, from cotton strains created by Monsanto (MON.N), had been
favourably evaluated by British regulatory authorities and were almost
identical to existing products, the Commission said.
Cottonseed oil is used as an ingredient in cakes, bread and other
processed foods.
"These processed cottonseed oils are indistinguishable from
conventional cottonseed oils and can therefore be considered as being
substantially equivalent to conventional cottonseed oils," the
Commission said in a statement.
The EU has not authorised the import, use or cultivation of any new GM
organisms since 1997 when many member states demanded tougher rules on
scientific testing and labelling of products which concerned consumers
were branding "Frankenstein foods".
The United States has said the bloc's unofficial moratorium on new
GMOs is an illegal trade barrier.
A Commission official explained that the cottonseed oils were not
covered by the moratorium - which only affects actual GM organisms and
not products derived from them - and would not need to carry
explanatory labels.
But under new regulations, still being discussed by EU governments and
the European Parliament, even derived products will have to be
labelled as coming from GMOs.
This will require producers and shippers of agricultural produce to
ensure goods can be traced back to their origin - an idea that U.S.
farmers say will be prohibitively expensive.
Once the new rules are in place - possibly some time next year - the
cotton oils will have to bear the "derived from GMOs" label.
The biotechnology industry is against the new rules but hope that at
least once they are in place, EU governments will lift their ban on
authorising new GM organisms.