[Gen-Streitfall] Hearing on co-existence in the European Parliament, 11 September 2003, 15:00 (fwd)

[Klaus Schramm]

Hallo Leute !

Hier eine vom FOE-Büro Brüssel stammende weitergeleitete Information
über ein Hearing des Europäischen Parlaments zum Thema Koexistenz, 
das am 11.09. in Brüssel stattfindet.
Wenn jemand zufällig am berüchtigten nine-eleven in Brüssel ist,
wäre es sicher interessant das Hearing  zu verfolgen - insbesondere, 
um zu sehen, welche Facts (evtl. neue ?) über Gefahren für die 
gentech-freie Landwirtschaft zur Sprache kommen oder ob es nur 
darum geht, mit welchen Maßnahmen "Sicherheit" zu gewährleisten sei. 
Dem Begleittext jedenfalls ist implizit zu entnehmen, daß Koexistenz
als eine realistische Perspektive angesehen wird.

Ciao
   Klaus Schramm

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: Dan Leskien [mailto:dleskien at europarl.eu.int]
Gesendet: Dienstag, 2. September 2003 13:48
Betreff: Hearing on co-existence in the European Parliament, 11September
2003, 15:00


Hearing of the European Parliaments Committee on agriculture and rural
development:

Co-existence between genetically modified crops and conventional and organic
crops

Brussels, 11 September 2003 at 3 p.m., Room PHS 3C050

The European Parliaments Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development has
decided in June this year to do an initiative report on Co-existence between
genetically modified crops and conventional and organic crops, which is at
the core of the present discussions about a possible lifting of the
moratorium on approvals of genetically modified organisms.

In order to give members of the Committee a sufficiently thorough insight
into the issue the Committee has invited experts in the field as well as
competent representatives of member states to a hearing, which till take
place on September 11th, from 3. p.m. to 6 p.m.

The invited experts are
· Professor Antoine Messean, INRA, France
· Dr Rikke Bagger Jørgensen, Risø National Laboratory, Denmark
· Franz Raab, Association of phyto-cultivators and seed traders, Austria
· Olivier Pageard, Coopérative agricole de céréales (CAC), France
· Dr Jeremy Sweet, National Institute of Agriculture Botany (NIAB), United
Kingdom

The Committees rapporteur on this issue and vice-president, Mr.
Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf  invites participants to a short
reception, for further informal exchange of views and information.

Background:

If GMO were to be approved for cultivation within the European Union, how
would co-existence between GM and non-GM farming practically work along the
entire food chain for seed companies, farmers, food and feed producers,
retailers and consumers?

Freedom of choice between GM and non-GM products is provided for consumers
in Europe through recently adopted Regulations on Labelling an Traceability.
However, choice and protection from eventual negative implications for
European farmers do not appear to be guaranteed on an equally reliable
level. The European Commission has recently issued guidelines for
co-existence, which the Commission suggests to leave to the individual
member states. Whether such a "subsidiarity approach" is a realistic and
practical option for European Agriculture is one of the question the
Committee's report aims to answer. National experts will provide insight in
the present state of discussion and preparation on national levels.

Co-existence comprises the following key issues:

1. Purity of seeds
Commissioner Byrne has announced a draft Commission-Directive to establish
threshold levels for the unlabelled adventitious presence of GMOs in non-GM
seeds. The Committee will examine the impacts and the legal basis of such
provisions and hear about the Austrian experience with rather restrictive
seed purity standards.

2. Outcrossing and gene-flow
A key issue of co-existence is to what extend GMO plants will disperse into
neighbouring fields and the environment by pollination and other routes of
propagation. The Committee will hear from experts in the field about the
present state of scientific knowledge in this field and the implications for
farmers.

3. Liability and insurance
At present it appears unclear who would be liable under what conditions and
to what extend in the event of contamination of non-GM seeds, yields and
food and feed products. The Committee will examine the present situation and
make recommendations about the way to proceed on a European level.

4. Traceability
The European Parliament and Council have adopted Regulations regarding the
traceability of GMOs along the food chain. The Committee will examine the
implications of their practical implementation, especially at the farm
level.

5. Segregation and identity preservation
As listed in the European Commissions guidelines on co-existence the
necessary segregation of GM and non-GM agricultural commodities and products
will require a diversity of additional and specific measures in seed
production, farming methods and practices, collection, transport, storage.
The Committee will examine efficiency and reliability of such preventive
measures, as well as the question who should bear the costs of these
measures and how they may influence the common agricultural market.

6. Specific implications for organic farming
Organic farming regulations prohibit the use of genetically modified
organisms and technologies. Specific measures may prove necessary to protect
organic farming practices beyond the general provisions of labelling and
traceability. The Committee will examine legal and practical aspects of
co-existence and the Regulation 2092/91 on organic production of
agricultural products.

The Committee has also sent a questionnaire to Agricultural Ministries of
the Member States regarding their approach to co-existence and welcomes
further submissions from all stakeholders.

Contact:
For further information on the hearing and access to the building of the
European parliament in Brussels contact the secretariat of the committee on
agriculture and rural development. Mrs Valerie Vende vvende at europarl.eu.int
0032 2 28 42773
or Mr Gerhard Kalb gkalb at europarl.eu.int phone: 0032 2 28 43655