GMW: Europe has right to avoid GMOs

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GMW: Europe has right to avoid GMOs

" GM WATCH " <info

Thu, 9 Feb 2006 11:24:49 GMT

 

 

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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Yet another quote of the week!

 

" Allowing the deep-pocketed companies that manufacture GMOs to control

the world's agriculture and forcing countries to expand their diet to

include GMOs is flat-out wrong. The WTO needs to back away from the

issue and realize that some circumstances fall outside the mandates of

free trade. Countries have a right to choose what they consume " .

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EDITORIAL - Europe has right to avoid GMOs

 

STAFF EDITORIAL

The Pitt News, University of Pittsburgh, United States

 

February 09, 2006

 

http://www.pittnews.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/02/09/43eaf56c2cd69

 

Genetically modified crops have been controversial since they were

first engineered and put on the market. Proponents argue that using

modified seeds results in higher yields; opponents cite potential

long-term health risks, loss of biodiversity and unavoidable

cross-contamination between modified and nonmodified crops as reasons

to treat these products with extreme caution.

 

In the United States, the overwhelming majority of foods are at least

partially composed of genetically modified organisms. Bovine growth

hormones, a pending strand of " golden rice " with a higher-than-normal

vitamin A content, and also seeds manufactured by major GMO producer

Monsanto which are resistant to Monsanto herbicides are all examples

of genetic engineering. Consumers have no real way to determine the

status of the food in their grocery carts, because there are no

labeling requirements in this country. This is largely because the FDA

has approved many species of GMOs.

 

Europe, on the contrary, has proven to be more concerned about the

potential risks of genetic engineering. Many countries within the EU

require clear labeling of GMO ingredients, do not allow their farmers

to grow modified crops and/or restrict the importation of engineered

foods.

 

Because of this, the United States, Canada and Argentina filed a

complaint with the World Trade Organization, alleging that several EU

member states were effectively banning GMOs, and that that was in

violation of international trade rules.

 

The WTO's ruling, which is still preliminary, is being interpreted

differently by the U.S. and the EU. American officials concluded that

the EU did have an effective ban, and EU officials believe that there

is clear evidence that there is no current moratorium.

 

This should never have gotten to the WTO. Countries in Europe have the

right to keep products they find questionable out of their borders. As

sovereign nations, they have an obligation to protect their citizens.

If European researchers believe GMOs to be a threat, then so be it.

There should be no mention of economics or international trade law in a

question of health.

 

America and friends are arguing from the premise that GMO and non-GMO

crops are equals - a premise which the EU does not share. That the WTO

did not investigate the questionable safety of genetically engineered

crops before coming to its conclusions is an indication that the

organization does not understand, or does not care to understand, this

difference of opinion.

 

Allowing the deep-pocketed companies that manufacture GMOs to control

the world's agriculture and forcing countries to expand their diet to

include GMOs is flat-out wrong. The WTO needs to back away from the

issue and realize that some circumstances fall outside the mandates of

free trade. Countries have a right to choose what they consume.

 

 

 

 

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