Brussels, 08/08/2003 (Agence Europe) - The USA announced on Thursday, that together with Canada and Argentina they would be requesting on 18 August the opening of a panel at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against the European moratorium on genetically modified organism (GMOs). The body responsible for settling WTO disputes is expected to formally examine this request on 29 August, indicated European sources. The EU "regrets this decision", declared the commission spokesman on Friday. The latter stated that , "our system is clear, transparent, non-discriminatory and respected WTO rules".
US Representative for Trade, Robert Zoellick declared in a joint press statement with the Secretary of State for Agriculture, Ann Veneman, that "Delegations from the United States, Canada and Argentina consulted in June with EU officials but the EU indicated no willingness to comply with its WTO obligations by lifting the groundless moratorium on biotech products".
The European Parliament on 2 July and the Council on 22 June adopted legislation on labelling and traceability of GMOs that open the way to lifting the moratorium decreed in 1999. The Commission stated that the EU had taken the necessary time to adopt a legal framework and had the right to provide itself with a legislation for ensuring the health and protection of consumers and the environment.
This position does not convince the US. Ann Veneman declared that they had been waiting "extremely patiently" for five years. Washington does not intend to wait till the end of the proceeding begun by the Commission at the EU Court of Justice against eleven Member States that apply the moratorium and which have not transposed he GMO directive (France, Germany, Luxembourg, Italy, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland, Greece, Austria and Finland: (EUROPE 16 July p 14). This procedure "has no direct link with the GMO case on the moratorium., given that the directive does not demand the lifting of the moratorium. The danger of remaining at least two years without direct penalties if Member States do not comply with the Court decision", remarked an American diplomat.
Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, El Salvador, Honduras and Uruguay have expressed their support for the US proceedings, stated the USA in a press statement.