RESOURCES
DOCUMENTS:
EU VOTE TO REPEAL GMO CROP BANS (29 November 2004)
Under pressure from the World Trade Organisation, the European Commission requested the EU Member States 2001/18 Regulatory Committee to vote on 29 November 2004 on a proposal to repeal eight national GMO bans or restrictions put in place by Austria, France, Greece, Germany and Luxembourg to protect their citizens from the health and environmental risks of GM crops.
These restrictions were introduced under the safeguard clause (Article 16) of the old
deliberate release Directive 90/220/EEC. They form the core of the WTO GM trade dispute
initiated by the USA, Canada and Argentina against the EU in 2003. If the WTO and the Commission get their way, these countries will be forced to lift their bans and allow more risky GM products into their markets against the wishes of their citizens. (This vote did not apply to various other GM foods banned in Italy using the Safeguard Clause of EC regulation 258/97 on food.) The table below shows how each country voted.
Ireland abstained from voting, thus contributing to the lack of a qualified majority to reject the Commission's proposal to repeal the bans.
As a result, it is almost certain that the Commission will ask the EU Council of
Ministers (Environment) to vote. If the Council of Ministers also fails to support or reject the proposal, the door will be open for the Commission to start lengthy legal proceedings against the various Member States. Whether the new Commission will start its term with such an unpopular move, and risk facing an even bigger backlash against GM foods, remains to be seen.
A full briefing from Friends of the Earth Europe on the national bans can be found at
www.foeeurope.org/biteback/download/national_bans_briefing_Oct2004.pdf
The EC proposals can be found at www.foeeurope.org/biteback/29nov/agenda.htm
Enquiries: Geert Ritsema, Friends of the Earth Europe - mobile +31 (0)6 290 05 908.
