Biotech giants launch 5m euro GM publicity blitz

Date: 08/03/01

By Laurence Frost

BIOTECH companies are launching a multimillion-euro campaign to persuade the public that genetically-engineered crops are safe in the wake of a decision by EU countries to uphold the de facto ban on 'Frankenfood' products.

The effort comes amid signs that trade fears could further delay a proposal on the traceablility of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) - one of the preconditions set by several EU countries for the lifting of the moratorium.

Directors from a number of European and US biotech companies - including Monsanto, Syngenta, Aventis, DuPont Pioneer and Dow Agroscience - are to agree on a public-relations war chest of around €5 million when they meet later this month.

"You won't see television advertising US-style," said Bernard Graciet, head of public affairs at Syngenta. "We're trying to favour credible organisations like universities and museums, backed up by newspaper articles, conferences and symposiums." The campaign will target countries where public opposition to GMOs is most entrenched. France, Denmark, Italy, Greece, Austria and Luxembourg last month issued a joint statement declaring that they would continue to block new permits after MEPs voted for tough new rules for testing and monitoring GM plants.

The statement set conditions for the lifting of the moratorium, including the adoption of traceability and labelling measures allowing consumers to choose between GM and non-GM produce. The move came as a blow to biotech firms, which had been assured that a positive vote on the '90/220 directive' would pave the way for new GM licences.

But there are signs that fresh obstacles have emerged to the adoption of the traceability measures. The draft proposal has been taken off the agenda for meetings of environment and internal market ministers today (8 March) and next Monday.

"They're basically trade-related," said Jim Currie, the Commission's Director-General for environment. "We're working very hard with our trade colleagues to come up with a viable proposal." The ministers were due to give feedback on the proposal before its scheduled publication at the end of the month - a target which environmental groups now doubt can be met.

"It looks like that's going to be pushed back now," said Adrian Bebb of Friends of the Earth. "We're in for a long drawn out process - and the six blocking countries know they've got the public on their side. At the end of the day, consumer choice has to come before WTO rules."

Industry is concerned that more delays on the approval of GM licences would widen the biotech competitiveness gap between Europe and the US even further.

"Anything that introduces new delays is a worry for us," said Graciet. "Companies will take their research to the US - according to what we hear it's already happening."

A report to be adopted by the Commission next Wednesday (14 March) will call for the problems faced by Europe's biotech industry to be added to the agenda of the special annual summit on growth and employment from 2002.

Biotech companies are launching a multimillion-euro campaign to persuade the public that genetically-engineered crops are safe in the wake of a decision by EU countries to uphold the de facto ban on 'Frankenfood' products.