Brussels, 10/05/2006 (Agence Europe) - Environmental NGOs are dismissive of a World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling to be released on Wednesday on a US-sponsored case attempting to force EU Member States to accept genetically modified organisms (GMOs) launched in May 2003 by the US, Canada and Argentina. The NGOs say they are certain the US and its allies will lose and the WTO has no right to make decisions in this field.
Friends of the Earth Europe has been able to access the confidential report, and explains that the panel's conclusions will be identical to those of the interim public report published in February this year, namely that despite its claims to the contrary, the United States has not won (see EUROPE 9127). The conclusions note the existence of a moratorium on genetically modified organisms in the EU from 1998 to 2004, but this has changed and the EU's GMO authorisation system is not challenged, explains FoE. While the report accuses the safety measures taken by six Member States of lacking scientific backing, the conclusions concede that national bans on GMOs can be justified.
Eric Gall, Greenpeace EU Policy Advisor, explains: 'All this verdict proves is that the WTO is unqualified to deal with complex scientific and environmental issues, as it puts trade interests above all others. Its only effect has been to reinforce the determination of EU countries to resist bullying by pro-GE governments and to say no to GE crops and food.' Greenpeace says the ruling was 'on a US-sponsored case which was attempting to force EU countries to accept genetically engineered (GE) organisms, in spite of overwhelming public opposition in Europe.' Daniel Mittler, a Greenpeace International WTO expert, adds: "While the WTO ruling fails to uphold the precautionary principle, which should be the basis of GE organism policies globally, it does affirm that governments can continue to ban GE organisms if they so wish."