| Author (Person) | Smith, Emily |
|---|---|
| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.11, No.39, 3.11.05 |
| Publication Date | 03/11/2005 |
| Content Type | News |
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By Emily Smith Date: 03/11/05 The European Commission is today (3 November) to approve another biotech maize for use in EU animal feed. The decision comes as European environment ministers prepare for a debate on national attitudes to genetically modified organisms (GMs) on 2 December. The application for approval of GM 1507 was submitted by the US biotech company Pioneer. Its maize has been developed with a resistance to certain pests, such as the European corn borer, and a tolerance for the weedkiller glufosinate. The European Food Safety Authority scientific panel on GMs concluded that the maize was not a threat to human or animal health or to the environment. GM 1507 will be the fifth genetically modified maize approved for import to Europe since a moratorium on EU approvals ended in May last year. As with the other four gene-altered crops, final approval falls to the Commission because national governments failed to agree for or against the maize variety. Denmark has requested a discussion on GMs at the December environment council in a bid to end this stalemate. The idea is that ministers will agree a common position on the controversial issue, breaking the deadlock on GM approvals and rejections. The Commission is also expected to publish its own position on biotech crops ahead of the council meeting, but it is unlikely that this will do much more than defend the EU biotech laws already in place. A proposal to allow 1507 to be grown in the EU, rather than just imported for use in feed, also has to be discussed by national governments, but ministers have yet to agree a date. If adopted, this would be the first biotech crop approved for EU cultivation since 1998. Several member states however say they are reluctant to approve GMs until there are strict laws agreed EU-wide on the co-existence of conventional and biotech crops. The Commission however says it wants to review national co-existence laws before deciding whether or not to legislate. Only three governments have so far adopted their own legislation, with another three at the drafting stage. A Commission report is expected early next year. Approvals for individual GMs are not the only biotech issue to be moving slowly in Europe. Eight countries have banned the growing of GM crops altogether - something the Commission believes is illegal. Environment ministers in June however rejected a Commission proposal overturning the bans and the EU executive has still to decide what further action to take. The Commission could reissue the same proposal and hope for a change of heart on the part of national governments. It could amend the proposal but would find that problematic, since there is no hard evidence to back up GM bans. Instead of requesting a Council decision, the Commission could seek to end the bans by proposing new legislation: a slower process but one that makes outright rejection by the Council impossible. Europe is also still waiting for legislation setting out allowable thresholds for the accidental contamination of traditional seeds with GMs. The Commission in September 2004 pulled back from publishing a proposal on seed thresholds at the last minute, saying it needed to carry out further studies. A Commission official said this week that continued delays to final publication were "mainly due to the need for further data regarding the economic implications of certain specific thresholds". Article anticipate the European Commission's decision on 3 November 2005 to approve the biotech maize No. 1507 for use in EU animal feed. |
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| Subject Categories | Business and Industry |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
