Brussels, 23/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission's desire to see the de facto moratorium on authorising the marketing of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) by 2003 does not look as though it is likely to be granted at this stage. At the national experts' working group, set by the Commission to advise it on the complex issues surrounding GMOs, the status quo reigns supreme. Meeting for the first time in Brussels last week to give its opinion on whether or not the moratorium should be dropped in the light of new Commission proposals on GMO labelling and traceability in food and feed (draft regulations unveiled on 24 July 2001), the most recalcitrant representatives of the Member States felt it was too early to give an opinion. The Environment Commissioner, Margot Wallström's spokesperson said that the five Member States (Greece, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Denmark and Austria) that have always said that they would not authorise any new GMO until the new legislation comes into force, have said that they will not publish their opinions until the legislation currently being discussed by the Council and the Parliament is adopted. EUROPE has reason to believe that some of these countries (like France) are amazed at being given a political issue to deal with. The Commission again stressed that the current moratorium has no legal basis and authorisation procedures should be relaunched in the EU. After the Agriculture Council on Tuesday (see separate article), the 29 October Environment Council will give Member States a further opportunity to discuss the issue in a debate on the labelling and traceability of GMOs.
The GMO working group is made up of experts designated by the Member States (as requested by the Commission) with at least two experts per Member State - a food regulation expert and an environmental legislation expert.