AIC welcomes call for more realistic approach on GM events in livestock feed
A report highlighting how the EU zero tolerance stance on GM varieties is restricting the flow of globally traded bulk commodities, and so adding to the escalating price of raw materials, has been welcomed by the Agricultural Industries Confederation.
The report commissioned by, among others two European trade organisations - FEFAC and COCERAL – identifies how GM technology is being rapidly taken up around the world as well as the EU's continued dependence on imported protein supplies.
New GM variety approval in the EU is continually frustrated at the political level, leading to a widening gap in approvals between the EU and the rest of the world. The current zero tolerance for non-approved varieties has meant an unacceptable level of risk for the international trade because if only a fraction is detected, the cargo has to be returned to origin – irrespective of any testing before shipment. The results have therefore been dramatic and imports of maize by-products have stopped.
"This year when wheat and soya prices doubled, the livestock industry could not use imported US maize gluten which has in the past been a valuable feed ingredient," explained Tony Bell, Chairman of AIC's Feed Executive Committee. "The livestock industry paid dearly for the lack of these raw materials in a year of shortage and expensive cereal and protein supplies.
"The situation is going to get worse as new GM soya varieties are now being grown for seed multiplication. Soya accounts for most of the 78% of vegetable protein which the EU needs to import. Soya cannot be fully replaced, either from domestic production or alternative imported products."
Major suppliers are already unwilling to offer material after the 2009 US harvest because of the EU's absence of any tolerance and the fact that GM presence can be found in around 90% of global traded soya.
"Soya supplies are critical to the EU livestock industry, and there are real dangers that we will destroy our livestock industry due to lack of raw material supplies," warns Mr Bell.
"This could lead to consumers depending on non-EU livestock products, which have been fed on the very same GM crops which the EU seeks to block. Thus the EU needs to be practical and implement a tolerance threshold for GM events that are already approved by regulatory bodies outside the EU."
"This is not about being pro or anti-GM," concludes Mr Bell. "As all companies trade in both GM and non-GM feed materials. It is about seeking a practical and workable solution to protect the EU livestock sector."
As the Commission works towards a solution involving a tolerance, AIC urges that it does not lose sight of the very real threat of paralysis in imports of soya and soya products. The knock on effect would be serious commercial and welfare issues for the whole EU livestock industry.
