Guest guest Posted August 26, 2004 Report Share Posted August 26, 2004 > GMW:_Biotech_-_One_Step_Forward,_Two_Back > " GM_WATCH " <info > Wed, 25 Aug 2004 22:08:39 +0100 > > GM WATCH daily > http://www.gmwatch.org > --- > " The farce Bt-11 approval has given them (EU) > breathing space. This whole approval issue has taken > a step backward. It's a joke. " > > For more about: > Truth About Trade > http://www.gmwatch.org/profile1.asp?PrId=267 > AgbioView/AgBioWorld > http://www.gmwatch.org/profile1.asp?PrId=106 > Kimball Nill > http://www.gmwatch.org/profile1.asp?PrId=283 > American Soybean Association > http://www.gmwatch.org/profile1.asp?PrId=10 > National Corn Growers Association > http://www.gmwatch.org/profile1.asp?PrId=96 > --- > Biotech: One Step Forward, Two Back > by: Greg Lamp > Source: AgBioView Newsletter (www.agbioworld.org) > http://www.truthabouttrade.org/article.asp?id=2402 > > What was heralded as a turning point for accepting > biotech crops in the European Union (EU), now almost > appears to be a farce. When the EU decided to allow > imports of Syngenta's biotech Bt-11 sweet corn last > spring, many breathed a sigh of relief. It was the > first biotech approval in six years. Was the EU > finally making strides to end its five-year > moratorium on approval of new biotech crops? > > The U.S. had earlier asked the World Trade > Organization (WTO) to force the EU to end its ban. > The U.S. claims the EU policy violates global trade > rules. The EU, of course, claims its not violating > any trade laws. > > Have we been duped? > > Now, with the new Bt-11 sweet corn approval, it > appears the EU, indeed, is following the rules. That > is, unless you dig deeper. Syngenta submitted the > regulatory dossier for Bt-11 sweet corn as food in > the EU in Nov. 1998. > > According to WTO rules, says Kim Nill, technical > issues director for the American Soybean > Association, " If the EU approves one new biotech > product, they're no longer considered to be blocking > biotech's progress. " In this case, they (EU) knew > Syngenta wasn't going to actively market sweet corn > there, " he says. > > BT-11 is still being marketed here in the U.S., but > very, very little is being exported, says Sarah > Hull, Syngenta spokesperson. " It's not a > commercially significant event (biotech product) for > us in Europe, " she adds. " It did not have major > financial implications for us - at all. " > > The fallout, then, is that the EU has as much as two > to three more years before they'll have to fully > approve another biotech product to remain in > compliance with WTO rules, Nill explains. Since the > EU approved the sweet corn, it essentially ends the > offending action which ends the moratorium. " The > farce Bt-11 approval has given them (EU) breathing > space, " says Nill. " This whole approval issue has > taken a step backward. It's a joke. " > > The EU regulatory system seems to be moving forward > at a quicker pace, says Helen Inman, chair of the > National Corn Growers Association Biotechnology > Working Group and farmer from Bancroft, IA. " But, " > she says, " we've been frustrated at the slowness of > the process and have a long way to go before the > moratorium on biotech products is effectively > ended. " > > Currently, there are about 30 genetically engineered > products and foods in the pipeline awaiting approval > for import into the EU. " Even if they march forward > at one every six months, it's just too slow, " says > Nill. " The products are already outdated in the U.S. > by the time they get through the approvals. " > > What makes the whole approval process even more > frustrating is that once products are approved, they > have a 10-year shelf life and then need to be > renewed. " Since Roundup Ready crops were introduced > in 1996, those products are up for renewal in 2006, " > Nill says. > > Fair trade continues to be the issue here. Still, > being an optimist, I'd like to think any forward > movement is progress. Stay informed and support > associations that work to get you a fair shake. > ... > Second Corn Approval > > At press time the EU was on its way to approving the > second corn event, Monsanto's NK603 for feed and > industrial use in the EU. NK603 cannot be marketed > until the commission approves the application for > food use, which could be delayed until October or > November. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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