Brussels, 24/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - The approval by member states representatives of the draft regulation which will harmonise implementation throughout the EU of the zero tolerance policy on non-authorised genetically modified (GM) material in animal feeds has drawn the ire of GMO opponents with its acceptance of a 0.1% threshold for the presence of GM material.
For the Commission, the 0.1% is not a tolerance threshold but a measure below which it is currently impossible to detect GMOs using valid and reproducible scientific methods. The NGO Greenpeace and the Greens in the Parliament say that this is not a quarrel over semantics but, quite simply, the “the end” of the principle of zero tolerance in the strict meaning of the term.
The draft regulation, approved by the EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health on Tuesday 22 February, seeks to harmonise across member states checks for traces of GMOs in imported animal feeds and to provide importers with legal security. The text defines the lowest level of GM presence that is considered by the EU GMO Reference Laboratory when validating detection methods. It is limited to GM feed material authorised for commercialisation in a third country and for which an authorisation procedure is pending in the EU or of which the EU authorisation has expired. Feed will be considered non-compliant with EU legislation when the presence of this GM feed material is, after due consideration of the margin of error, above 0.1% level, the technical zero, and will not be allowed onto the EU market.
The Greens/EFA Group in the Parliament say the draft approved, “which authorises the import of cereals or vegetable protein containing traces of GMOs which have not been authorised in Europe, is unacceptable. It also calls into question the role of EFSA”. The NGO Food & Water Europe is critical that “the 'technical solution' to GM contamination of animal feed that will permit up to 0.1% of imports to contain GM traits that have not been assessed as safe under European regulations”. (A.N./transl.fl)