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EU Bows Again to US Pressure on Risky Gene Crops
EU BOWS AGAIN TO US PRESSURE BY ALLOWING RISKY GENETECH-CROPS
INTO EUROPE
Brussels 18th March 1998 -- European member states allowed today
four genetically engineered crops to be imported into Europe.
Greenpeace condemned the European Union's failure to fight for
the protection of the environment and public health from risky
genetically altered crops by giving in to US trade pressure.
These new genetically engineered crops include three maize
strains and one oilseed rape strain. They have been manipulated
to be insect resistant by producing a Bt toxin and/or tolerant
against herbicides (1).
New crops were approved despite a strong opposition in Europe.
The European Parliament's environment committee only yesterday
recommended that none of these four genetically altered crops
should be allowed to be placed on the European market.
"Scientific information has recently come to light which shows
that genetically engineered Bt-crops may lead to the development
of resistant insects in almost no time. Bt-toxins are used in
organic farming as an environmentally-friendly pest control. The
spread of Bt-resistance would rob organic farmers of one of
their best tools", said Greenpeace spokesperson Louise Gale(2).
These maize strains were grown in the US last year, and have
been mixed with the other US grown maize after harvest. They
have already been imported to Europe despite the fact they had
not been given authorization for commercial use on the
continent.
"The US is jeopardising the international community's attempts
to develop international legal rules to protect biodiversity,
the environment and public health from the proliferation of
genetically manipulated organisms," said Louise Gale.
The single-minded trade policy of the US resulted in a farce
last week when Switzerland turned back two river barges
carrying illegal genetically engineered maize products. The
cargo of these two barges are now under containment in the
Netherlands. It is yet undecided if this cargo will be sent
back to the US, or if it will be exported to other countries
such as Central and Eastern European countries.
The problem of proliferation of genetically engineered crops is
worsened by the fact that there is no global legislation for
protecting the environment from the hazards these crops may
create. The United Nations is developing regulations on
genetically engineered products in the framework of the Rio
Biodiversity Convention. This so-called biosafety protocol is
currently under negotiation.
"The US is doing all it can to turn this protocol into a genetic
hazard proliferation tool. How can less developed countries
succeed in standing up against US trade pressure when even
Europe is too scared to stand up against this pressure, and
instead ignores its own laws on safety?" said Louise Gale.
Only Austria voted against Monsanto's and AgrEvo's genetically
altered maize. Several other countries abstained. Greenpeace
calls on these countries to assert their rights under Article
16 of European genetech law and to ban these products
nationally, thereby sending a signal to the international
community that at least they are intending to resist the
bullying trade pressure by the US.
Note to the editors:
1. The following four genetically altered crops were accepted
for commercial use in the EU:
· Monsanto's genetically altered Bt maize for import and
cultivation
· AgrEvo's genetically altered glufosinate herbicide tolerant
maize for import and cultivation
· Northrup King (Novartis) genetically altered Bt and
glufosinate herbicide tolerant maize for import
· AgrEvo's genetically altered glufosinate herbicide tolerant
and antibiotic resistant oilseed rape for import.
2. Bt-crops contain a gene from the soil bacteria
Bacillus thurienciensis that produces toxins fatal to insects.
These bacteria are widely used in organic farming as
environmentally friendly pesticides.
Greenpeace on the Internet at http://www.greenpeace.org