Brussels, 20/06/2003 (Agence Europe) - During the first consultation meeting in Geneva on Thursday, the Union told its American and Argentinean interlocutors that it believes its authorisation system for genetically modified organisms to be in line with World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. "Disappointed but not surprised", the United States already appear convinced of failure after this first attempt at an amicable settlement: "we will now go ahead and request a panel", said Richard Mills, spokesman of the American Trade Representative.
Discussions were "constructive", said a Commission press release published after the meeting. The Commission feels it answered "all the questions from the USA and Argentina on both the EU regulatory framework for GMOs and the status of pending applications for approval". The European position is legitimate, firstly because the EU, like any other WTO member, has the right to establish a regulatory regime to ensure that GMOs are put on the based on a "careful" assessment of risks, appropriate control and monitoring measures, and proper information to consumers. Furthermore, all GMO applications are assessed on the basis of the new regulatory framework which entered into force in October 2002, and these procedures are functioning "as planned". Lastly, all applications are and will be examined on their own merits.
"WTO litigation would certainly not influence this process", affirms Brussels. After information to the contrary from Brussels and Ottawa, two Canadian officials were in fact present in Geneva alongside the American and Argentinean negotiators. This country, a producer and exporter of GMOs, will still conduct separate consultations with Europe next week in Brussels. "We are not hoping for anything different to the Americans", said an official Canadian source, because "if they won't budge for the United States, they won't budge for us (...) our grievances our basically the same". Geneva has still not received a request for consultations from Egypt, whose intentions remain uncertain. The same is true of Honduras and El Salvador, who were supposed to request third-party status, having a systemic interest in this case. Lastly, it is worth noting that a certain number of countries which have requested consultation, such as Peru, New Zealand and Australia, are maintaining their legislative restrictions on GMOs, including general moratoria on approvals, whilst attacking the Union and Member States' restrictions. "The EU has approved more GMOs than any of the third parties in the consultations", states a Brussels source.