EUROPE SAYS "NO!" TO GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOOD:
Action by Governments
When Monsanto and Ciba Geigy tried to foist their genetically engineered products on Europe, they had no idea public opposition would be so strong. All over Europe people are saying "No!' to products whose genes have been tampered with. As more and more consumers reject them, so some retailers, food producers and Governments are taking steps to hold back the unnatural foodstuffs. The message from Europe is clear - no-one wants genetically engineered food.
AUSTRIA:
Following the European Commission decision to allow Ciba Geigy's genetically engineered corn into Europe, the Austrian Government decided that health and environment concerns had not been adequately considered. On December 23rd 1996 they announced they would not allow the import of the corn and would challenge the Commission's approval using Article 16 of the Directive which governs the release of genetically engineered foodstuffs into the environment. Austria can now legally ban the corn for up to three months while the Commission decides whether it can uphold the ban. This is the first time Article 16 has been used in the European Union.
DENMARK
The government has decided that all food items containing genetically engineered soya must be labelled. Mandatory rules were issued December 6th, 1996. It has also said it will work to change EU decision-making procedures so that genetically modified organisms can be rejected with a simple majority in the Council.
The Minister for Food announced that he will look into possibilities for positive labelling of foods which "Do Not Contain Genetically Modified Organisms".
On behalf of the Nordic Ministers Council (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the autonomous areas of Greenland, the Faroes and Aaland) Danish minister, Marianne Jelved, promised that ministers will look into ways for producers, retailers and consumers in the Nordic countries to have a free choice between genetically engineered and traditional foodstuffs and raw materials.
EUROPE
An overwhelming majority of members of the European Parliament supported a resolution calling on the European Commission and member states to ensure segregation and labelling of genetically engineered soya beans on the European market.
FRANCE
In January 1997 President Jaques Chirac said in the Council of Ministers that no genetically engineered product would be allowed on the market in France until the issue of labelling had been solved. The Agriculture Minister ruled that all such products must be clearly labelled, and said that all shipments arriving in France would be held in customs "until a clear labelling scheme is in place".
GERMANY
The Green Party has called on the EU to block food products containing genetically engineered soya or at least to label those which do contain it.
NETHERLANDS
The Minister for Agriculture has said that segregation of genetically engineered soya beans from natural soya beans should be possible, and that suppliers and producers should take responsibility for making it happen. This contradicts the line taken by the Ministers of Health and the Environment.
From April 1997 all food products containing genetically engineered soya protein will be labelled.
SWEDEN
The Green party, Christian Democrats and part of the farmer party "Centern" have called for the government to use Article 16 to challenge the European Commission's approval of genetically engineered soya and corn to be used and grown in Europe.
SWITZERLAND
All Swiss food products containing genetically engineered soya must be labelled
UNITED KINGDOM
The UK Government was one of those most concerned about the release of Ciba Geigy's genetically engineered corn into the UK. They feared that the antibiotic resistance built into the corn could spread to bacteria in the gut of animals fed with it.
After pressure from consumer groups, the UK Government's advisory Committee on Novel Foods agreed to re-examine the issue of labelling genetically engineered soya.
LUXEMBOURG
At the EU Environment Minister's Council meeting on December 9/10th, "the delegations of Luxembourg and Austria intervened on the subject of importation of genetically modified soya into the Community. These delegations, supported by others, expressed their preoccupation with the absence of clear rules regarding end use, packaging and labelling of this product...the delegations invited the Commission to take appropriate measures in order to safeguard the Community from any possible risks involved." ( Text : report of the EU Commission )
SPAIN
The Spanish Parliament called on the government to oppose EU approval of Ciba Geigy's genetically engineered maize. The Ministry of Environment supported by the Ministry of Health believes the soya and maize should be labelled to give the public a choice.