GMW: WTO: HANDS OFF OUR FOOD! Draft ruling imminent

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GMW: WTO: HANDS OFF OUR FOOD! Draft ruling imminent

" GM WATCH " <info

Fri, 3 Feb 2006 09:59:37 GMT

 

 

 

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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Media advisory

3 February 2006- For immediate release

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WTO: HANDS OFF OUR FOOD!

Draft ruling imminent on trade dispute between EU and US

 

A special media briefing on the GM trade dispute is available at

http://www.foeeurope.org/publications/2006/GMO_and_WTO_interim_briefing_Feb2006.\

pdf

as well as a fact sheet on GMOs and the WTO, see

http://www.foeeurope.org/publications/2006/GMO_and_WTO_QA_Feb2006.pdf

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Brussels/Geneva, 3 February 2006 - Opposition to genetically modified

(GM) foods) is likely to increase if the World Trade Organisation (WTO)

rules in favour of a US-led complaint against European GM policy,

Friends of the Earth Europe warned today. A draft final WTO ruling is

expected next week.

 

The international environmental group accused the WTO of being

secretive, undemocratic and biased towards business interests, and

charged that

it is the wrong institution to settle disputes of this kind.

 

The United States, Canada and Argentina launched a trade dispute with

the EU through the WTO in May 2003. They have been arguing that Europe's

reluctance to embrace GM foods damaged their farmers and was a barrier

to trade. In line with WTO secrecy, the draft ruling will only be sent

to the countries in the dispute. A final ruling is expected later in

the year.

 

Friends of the Earth Europe's Trade Co-ordinator Alexandra Wandel said:

" The World Trade Organisation should keep its hands off our food.

Protecting Europe's wildlife, farmers and consumers from the threat of

genetically modified crops is far more important than free trade

rules. The

WTO is secretive, undemocratic and unfair. It should not decide what

the public eats and how we protect our environment. "

 

Adrian Bebb, GM Food Campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe, said:

" Opposition to genetically modified foods is likely to increase if the

WTO decides that European safeguards should be sacrificed to benefit

biotech corporations. The number of bans by countries in Europe against

GM foods is increasing, and the number of regions declaring themselves

GM Free has soared. The WTO, the US administration and biotech firms

should stop their bullying and let Europeans decide what food we eat. "

 

Friends of the Earth has published a fact sheet and briefing on the

dispute today [1] which highlight:

 

*Opposition to GM foods and crops in Europe has increased since the

beginning of the trade dispute - There are now over 170 regions and 4,500

smaller areas that want to be GM-free.

 

*An alternative dispute settlement procedure is needed to solve trade

nd environmental conflicts. This could be the International Court of

Justice or the Permanent Court of Arbitration. Additionally, the UN

Biosafety Protocol is an international agreement already in place that

deals

with trade in GMOs. Unfortunately, the US has refused to sign it.

 

*The first ten years of GM crops have failed to deliver the benefits

promised by the biotech industry and have played no role in tackling

poverty and hunger [2].

 

An international campaign against the WTO dispute called " Bite-back -

WTO: Hands off our food! " is supported by 750 organisations

representing some 60 million people (see http://www.bite-back.org).

The coalition

states that the industry-friendly WTO is not the right place to decide

what food Europeans should eat.

 

The " Bite Back " citizens' objection was initiated by Friends of the

Earth International with the support of consumer, development and

Farmers'

groups, trade unions, research institutes and citizens from over 100

countries.

 

[1] A special media briefing on the GM trade dispute is available at

http://www.foeeurope.org/publications/2006/GMO_and_WTO_interim_briefing_Feb2006.\

pdf

as well as a fact sheet on GMOs and the WTO, see

http://www.foeeurope.org/publications/2006/GMO_and_WTO_QA_Feb2006.pdf

 

[2] Who benefits from GM crops

http://www.foeeurope.org/publications/2006/who_benefits_from_gm_crops_Jan_2006.p\

df

 

CONTACT:

Alexandra Wandel, Friends of the Earth WTO expert, +49 172 748 3953

Adrian Bebb, Friends of the Earth GMO expert, +49 1609 490 1163

 

 

 

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