[Gen-Streitfall] Fwd: [wtogmo] Media: EU APPROVES ANOTHER GM IMPORT AS WTO DISPUTE DRAGS ON

[Cornelia Reetz]

Dies ist eine weitergeleitete Nachricht
Von    : Alexandra Wandel <alexandra.wandel at foeeurope.org>
Datum  : Mittwoch, 21. Juli 2004, 18:44
Betreff: [wtogmo] Media: EU APPROVES ANOTHER GM IMPORT AS WTO DISPUTE DRAGS ON

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Bridges weekly trade news digest
EU APPROVES ANOTHER GM IMPORT AS WTO DISPUTE DRAGS ON
 
On 19 July the European Commission authorised Monsanto's NK603 corn,
genetically modified (GM) to tolerate the herbicide Roundup Ready. This
EC move followed the failure of European environment ministers to reach
a decision on the corn at their last meeting (see BRIDGES Trade BioRes,
8 July 2004, http://www.ictsd.org/biores/04-07-08/inbrief.htm#5). The
approval only applies for the use of corn as feed -- not for cultivation
-- and imports will only be allowed once the maize also has been
approved for food use. Agriculture ministers, meeting on 19 July on this
issue, also failed to reach a decision on food use and it will again be
up to the Commission to decide on the authorisation by late September.
While the GM maize already was the second variety authorised by the
Commission since approvals were put on hold in 1998, the US
administration stressed that they would continue to pursue the WTO case
against the EU's (now no longer existent) de facto moratorium on GM
approvals (see BRIDGES Trade BioRes, 11 June 2004,
http://www.ictsd.org/biores/04-06-11/story1.htm). "Our bottom line is
Europe needs to have a predictable, timely, transparent and
science-based regulatory system for biotech products," said Richard
Mills, spokesperson for the US Trade Representative. The proceedings,
however, have been delayed to allow parties additional time to prepare
their rebuttals (see BRIDGES Weekly, 7 July 2004,
http://www.ictsd.org/weekly/04-07-07/wtoinbrief.htm#1). No new timeline
has been set for when the Panel will issue its report. 
 
"GMOs: Commission authorises import of GM-maize for use in animal feed,"
IP/04/957, 19 July 2004; "Europe approves genetically modified corn as
animal feed," NYT, 20 July 2004.

-- 
Alexandra Wandel
Trade and Sustainability Programme Co-ordinator
Friends of the Earth Europe
15, rue Blanche
B-1050 Brussels- Belgium
http://www.foeeurope.org, http://www.foei.org, http://www.bite-back.org
 
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **  * * * ** * * * * * * 
BITE BACK: WTO HANDS OFF OUR FOOD
Bush is using the WTO to force-feed you genetically modified food. You
can help stop them: Bite Back! Sign the Citizens' Objection online at
http://www.bite-back.org
 




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