EU may start to lift GMO ban before year-end - EC
Date: 03-Oct-03
Country: BELGIUM
EU Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner David Byrne said member states would vote on allowing a new type of genetically modified maize for use in food, BT11 sweet corn produced by Swiss firm Syngenta AG SYNZn.VX , in the test case.
"It is possible that the Syngenta product could be considered by the relevant regulatory committee before the end of the year," the Irish Commissioner told EU lawmakers.
The decision would take place behind closed doors in a committee bringing together member state officials and the European Commission. A majority of votes would carry the day.
A second type of GM maize produced by U.S.-based Monsanto, Round-up Ready maize GA21, also for use in food, would be up for a vote in 2004, added Byrne.
The EU remains divided over GMOs though a raft of rules has been agreed to meet health and environmental safety concerns.
Rules for growing gene crops are already in place, while legislation for labelling food and animal feed containing GMOs is being rubber-stamped and should apply by spring 2004.
EU member states are currently trying to thrash out seed purity rules setting a maximum GMO content in organic and conventional seeds. They are also discussing how to limit GMOs spreading from biotech crops to "traditional" varieties.
Britain's Guardian newspaper yesterday published a leaked report from British scientists, saying the mass cultivation of GM oilseed rape and sugar beet would destroy plant and insect life. The findings are due to be published next week.
United Statesfarmers are watching events in the EU closely, ready to expand their cultivation of the two GM maize varieties if the EU opens up its market. They say the EU's ban is costing them $300 million a year in lost exports of mostly maize.
The pro-biotech United States, along with Canada and Argentina, are challenging the moratorium in the World Trade Organisation, arguing that the EU is acting illegally.
