Brussels, 04/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - Almost all delegations took part in the exchange of views at the Environment Council on genetically modified organisms (GMOS). This shows the matter is one that causes concern for the EU's Environment Ministers, who are aware of the fact that authorisation procedures for new GMO-based foodstuffs could resume and that any decision concerning the sensitive issue of current conventional and biological production, and GMO product channels, could escape their control. It is essentially up to the Agriculture Ministers to examine the issue considered by the European Commission as coming under the management of farm practices so as not to compromise organic production, and not the management of environmental risks linked to biotechnologies, as was the case during adoption of Directive 2001/18/EC establishing strict rules for market approval procedures and the voluntary dissemination of GMOs into the environment or for the regulations on traceability and labelling still being examined.
Margot Wallström, Environment Commissioner, simply announced to ministers that guidelines on the co-existence of farm production channels would be adopted on Wednesday by the College of Commissioners. She did not, however, specify the content, with which the press is already largely familiar (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.16).
Several ministers seized the opportunity to forcefully express their specific fears to Margot Wallström. Germany and France, supported by many delegations, expressed deep concern about the rumours that authorisation procedures would be resumed for new GMO-based foodstuffs by the European Commission, and about the problem of concurrent GMO and non-GMO crops, which also greatly concerns Italy and Belgium.
Italian Minister Altero Matteoli called for stringent control of crops in order to protect organic farming. German Minister Jürgen Trittin quite simply considered it inadmissible for the organic farmer to have to defend himself against "attack" aimed at his products by GMO seeds.
Regarding the authorisation procedures under way, the Commission replied that 19 new foods are currently being examined, ten of which are intended for crops and 9 for other purposes (products for which the problem of coexisting production channels is not posed), but that no decision will be taken before autumn 2003 since the regulatory committee called upon to give its opinion before the Commission takes a decision will not be convened before end October. Confident that a compromise may be reached between Parliament and Council on the two regulations concerning traceability and labelling of food and feed, Margot Wallström added that a fortunate timetable coincidence meant that, perhaps, both regulations would take effect the same day. She also insisted on the importance of sending the Union's trading partners (like the United States and Canada) a message of opening and not of obscurantism, and that a signal be sent to the developing countries informing them that GMOs are not dangerous - something that brought a smile to Minister Trittin's face.
Germany, France, Italy, Denmark, Belgium, Sweden, Luxembourg, Austria and Greece consider that there is no question of going back to hypothetical calendar (it is uncertain whether a conciliation procedure can be prevented between the Council and Parliament on the two crucial regulations). The political message that they sent to the Commission is very clear: no new authorisation to be given as long as the said regulations are not in force, as Directive 2001/18/EC is far from offering a sufficient regulatory framework. All of them mentioned the need for transparency and the right of consumers to freedom of choice.
At the other end of the spectrum, the United Kingdom and Ireland believe that the relaunch of authorisation procedures is positive and are impatiently awaiting the communication on the co-existence of agricultural production industries.
Finland is between the two currents and is happy to relaunch the procedures that are already too slow for its liking but it is anxious that particular attention is afforded to organic production.
The term moratorium was not mentioned at any moment by Ministers, except for the Italian Minister. But it is in fact this moratorium, that is has been force in the Union since 1998 and which constitutes the end parameter for this debate. According to a diplomat, political will tended in general to focus attention on the arsenal of rules required for offering the maximum of guarantees to the consumer, on the environment and farmers.
Margot Wallström has not been late in remarking to ministers that the very strict rules established in directive 2001/18/EC are completely at the disposition of Member States but have not yet been transposed other than by Denmark and Sweden. President Vasso Papandreu concluded the debate by stressing the importance by all Member States.