Brussels, 03/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - Under pressure from several Member States, the Commission is planning to soon adopt (likely to be by the end of May) rules for a tolerance level for accidental or technically unavoidable presence of GMOs in traditional or organic seed. The Commission's task is difficult because it involves three directorates general with interests that sometimes diverge; David Burn's (directive on seed); Margot Wallström, environment (directive 2001/18 on the dissemination of GMOs and that of Franz Fischler (regulation on organic farming).
In an Agricultural Council fringe meeting on 26 April, Austria, Denmark and Luxembourg supported a maximum level of 0.1%. Following adoption of the new regulation on labelling of Trans-genetic foodstuffs (compulsory mention of GMOs from 0.9% upwards for ingredients), the Scientific Committee for plants stated last year that tolerance levels would be between 0.3 and 0.7% depending on the seed (potato, rape seed, corn, Soya). The Commission is expected to draw on these recommendations for its proposal.