By Theodora Filis
A press release issued today by Greenpeace - European Unit said the European Union (EU) is now allowing untested Genetically Modified (GM) crops into the European food chain.The end to Europe's zero-tolerance approach to untested GM crops in animal feed was made final today by EU member state representatives in Brussels, allowing the unintended mixing of approved and unapproved GM varieties to enter Europe.
Both the animal feed industry and biotech industry have been lobbying individual countries to vote in favor of a proposal to allow imports of animal feed to contain up to 0.1 percent of non-approved GMOs. They claimed the current restrictions are costing the EU 4 billion Euros and leading to a 'crisis' of supply that will lead to higher meat prices for consumers.
Both the animal feed industry and biotech industry have been lobbying individual countries to vote in favor of a proposal to allow imports of animal feed to contain up to 0.1 percent of non-approved GMOs. They claimed the current restrictions are costing the EU 4 billion Euros and leading to a 'crisis' of supply that will lead to higher meat prices for consumers.
Because of the new rules, adopted today and expected to come into force in early summer 2011, the EU will be allowed contamination of up to 0.1% by crops that have not undergone safety testing in Europe.
In an apparent concession to France and other EU countries initially opposing the plan, untested crops pending authorization in the EU for at least three months will be let through, but with no guarantee that they subsequently will be declared safe.
Anti-corruption group, Corporate Europe Observatory, has published its own investigation into heavy lobbying by industry groups.
“I think it's safe to say that allowing the presence of illegal GM in food and feed is one of the key targets of the industry to break down the resistance in the EU against GMOs. It would basically give the message [that] all GMOs are safe,” said campaigner Nina Holland.
Europe imports large quantities of animal feed from the United States, Brazil, and Argentina, where 80% of the world’s GM crops are grown. European governments have come under pressure from the United States and the animal feed industry to relax their rules to allow more GM crops into the market.
“If the safety of a GM crop has not been tested in Europe, it should not be allowed. Setting a tolerance threshold, however low, is a sign that Europe is losing control over its own food production to please American exporters. The danger now is that EU countries come under pressure from the pro-GM lobby to also allow GM contamination in food products for direct human consumption,” said Greenpeace EU agriculture policy adviser Stefanie Hundsdorfer.
Europe imports large quantities of animal feed from the United States, Brazil, and Argentina, where 80% of the world’s GM crops are grown. European governments have come under pressure from the United States and the animal feed industry to relax their rules to allow more GM crops into the market.
“If the safety of a GM crop has not been tested in Europe, it should not be allowed. Setting a tolerance threshold, however low, is a sign that Europe is losing control over its own food production to please American exporters. The danger now is that EU countries come under pressure from the pro-GM lobby to also allow GM contamination in food products for direct human consumption,” said Greenpeace EU agriculture policy adviser Stefanie Hundsdorfer.
With European consumers less aware of what is being used in animal feed, it is feared this new ruling, by EU member state representatives in Brussels today, will make it easier to push GM crops into Europe.
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