[Gen-Streitfall] Fwd: Press Release: GMO MORATORIUM

[Cornelia Reetz]

Liebe Leute,

die EU-Kommission hat soeben mit der Zulassung eines neuen Genmaises
(Bt11 von Syngenta) das seit 1998 bestehende Moratorium gegen
Gentechnik aufgehoben. Unten dazu eine PE von Friends of the Earth
Europe.

Viele Grüße,
Cornelia                                  

________________________

Cornelia Reetz
Alte Reihe 16
27313 Dörverden

NEUE TEL.-NUMMER:
042 34/ 94 31 98
0171/ 83 479 83

Einspruch! Nein zu Gen-Food per US-Zwangsverordnung über die WTO.
Aktiv werden - hier: www.GENug-WTO.de/einspruch.html

--------------------------------------------------

Dies ist eine weitergeleitete Nachricht
Von    : Adrian Bebb <adrian.bebb at foeeurope.org>
An     : Adrian Bebb <adrian.bebb at foeeurope.org>
Datum  : Mittwoch, 19. Mai 2004, 12:18
Betreff: Press Release: GMO MORATORIUM

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Friends of the Earth Europe

Immediate Press Release Wednesday 19 May 2004

Contact: Adrian Bebb +49 1609 490 1163


****************************************************
 GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS IN EUROPE:
POLITICIANS SAY YES - PUBLIC SAYS NO!
****************************************************

Brussels, Belgium - The approval of the first new genetically modified (GM)
food in Europe for over five years will only harden consumer resistance says
Friends of the Earth, the world's largest grassroots environmental network.
The group heavily criticised the European Commission (1) for approving the
import of a controversial GM sweet-corn without the support of the European
Union (EU) member states who remain deeply divided over its safety.
 
The maize, developed by Swiss-based Syngenta, has been engineered to include
a deadly insecticide. The European approval is only for food and animal feed
imports and not for growing in the EU.
 
However Friends of the Earth claim that with opposition so high there is
little future for GM food and crops in Europe.
 
Consumers say no
There is virtually no market for GM foods in Europe as consumers have
overwhelmingly rejected them. New EU labelling and traceability regulations
came into force on April 18th giving consumers better information to decide.
Official opinion polls show that 94.6% of EU citizens want the right to
choose and 70.9% simply do not want GM food (2).
 
GM Free Regions
Initiatives to ban GM crops from being grown have now started in at least 22
European countries with some regions introducing their own legislation to
ban the crops. In France over 1200 municipalities have issued GM free
statements as well as 500 cities in Italy.
 
GM industry in retreat
The biotechnology industry sees no future in Europe. Last week biotech giant
Monsanto withdrew their GM wheat after selling their European cereal
business last year. Last month Bayer withdrew the only commercial crop it
had in the UK. The number of applications to test GM crops outdoors in
Europe have reduced 80% since 1997.
 
Exports lost
Countries that have planted GM crops on a large scale have seen their
exports to Europe crash. Maize from the US to Europe has declined from 3.3
million tonnes in 1995 to just 25,000 tonnes in 2002. Canada has lost all of
its oilseed rape (canola) market to Europe, worth an estimated $300
million.(4)
 
Adrian Bebb, GM campaigner for Friends of the Earth said:
"There is no future for genetically modified foods or crops in Europe.
Politicians may be saying yes but the public is clearly saying no. The
European market is virtually dead, regions are banning the growing of GM
crops and the industry is packing up and leaving.
 
"The European Commission is gambling with the health of consumers. Member
states remain divided over the long term safety of this GM sweet corn, yet
the Commission wants to force it down our throats. But the public won't
swallow this. Hostility to GM food and crops is likely to grow, and the
publics confidence in EU decision-making is likely to be damaged."´
 
Friends of the Earth opposes the release of GM crops into the environment
but does not oppose biotechnology in general.
 
Notes to Editors
 
1. The Commission is the executive arm of the European Union.
2. europa.eu.int/comm/research/press/2001/pr0612en-report.pdf
3. European Commission regrets US decision, Press release, European
Commission 13 May 2003
 
 A briefing of the GM situation in Europe can be found at www.foeeurope.org

CONTACTS
Adrian Bebb, Friends of the Earth Europe - mobile +49 (0)1609 490 1163
Nicolo Sarno Media Coordinator, Friends of the Earth International 31 20
6221369
 
 
 
 
 
 

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