EUROPEAN UNION-GM FOOD DEBATE.
A meeting of EU biotech experts ended in deadlock yesterday (25 February) after failing to agree on whether to allow more cultivation of genetically-modified crops, which are hugely controversial in Europe.
The applications for two GM maize types will now be sent to EU ministers for a decision.
The GM maize types considered at the meeting were Bt-11 maize, engineered by Switzerland’s Syngenta, and 1507 maize, jointly developed by Pioneer Hi-Bred International (a unit of DuPont Coand Mycogen Seeds) and a unit of Dow AgroSciences.
"This decision only adds to our frustration," said Syngenta in a statement.. "Today’s long-awaited vote could have marked a watershed for the current slow and highly-politicised approach to authorising biotech crops in Europe.."
"Farmers have been growing Bt11 maize safely and successfully for over 10 years in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, the Philippines, Uruguay and the United States," the company added.
New modified crops for cultivation are the most contentious GM issue in Europe, and none have been approved since 1998.
However, a string of modified products have been approved for import since 2004 for use in food and animal feed.
"1507 maize has been grown commercially around the world since 2003 without any negative impacts on the environment, food safety or consumer health," Dow said in a statement.
"We regret that member states failed to cast a deciding vote based on the scientific evidence and common sense," it added.
But environment group Greenpeace said the stalemate reflected the need to tweak the EU’s process for authorising GM crops, something already recommended by environment ministers.
"The Commission has utterly ignored these recommendations," said Greenpeace campaigner Marco Contiero. "The concerns of EU citizens on GMOs can no longer be ignored."
"EU member states have every right to maintain total control over what is grown on their own territory until the recommendations for a review of the GMO process are taken seriously by the Commission," he added.
While diplomats say approving a new GM crop for growing is almost impossible in the EU’s current climate, if ministers also fail to agree, the applications would then return to the Commission.
If that happens, the Commission would - probably - end up issuing standard ten-year licences by default. But that may take some time.
