On June 14th,2007 Peter Mandelson, the EU trade commissioner made an important and encouraging speech at the European Biotechnology Open day in Brussels.

He strongly defended an open European approach to biotechnology and GM food; one that prioritises strict science-based health and safety testing but which recognises that safe biotechnology has a crucial role to play in agriculture and agricultural trade both in Europe and the developing world. Calling biotechnology "The coal face of applied science in the twenty first century" he concluded: "we must be under no illusion that Europe's interests are served by being outside a global market that is steadily working its way through the issues raised by GM food. They are not".

Mandelson argued that Europe has the appropriate risk-management systems for ensuring that biotechnology is rigorously tested, but that these systems can be badly undermined if politicians and risk-managers do not defend the science that underpins them. He says: "A rigorous system means approving GM imports when the science is on their side just as we take a firm line when precaution is justified… if politicians and risk managers undermine their own system… we devalue objective science as our most important benchmark – and that is a dangerous step to take." Mandelson warned that as a global market for GM products grows, EU application of its rules will come under greater international scrutiny: "If we fail to implement our own rules, or implement them inconsistently, we can - and probably will - be challenged.

He argued that any blanket rejection of GMOs ignores the fact that genetically modified foods have played a key part in past revolutions in agricultural productivity and will be central to providing sufficient food and feed stocks for a growing population in the developing world. They are also likely to have a central role in shaping agricultures response to climate change through adapted bio-fuel crops.

He went on to emphasise that there is an economic risk in Europe if we fall behind the global economy in approving safe biotechnology. European Commission research that suggests that Europe may find it increasingly hard to source animal feed that is approved under EU rules – putting a heavy strain on the EU livestock sector. "Isolation from international trade in agricultural biotech products that have passed credible safety standards simply may not be a viable option for the EU", said the commissioner.

He continued by advisng the EU to take the lead in shaping "a global system of clear rules that allow exporters and importers to trade GM crops and feed in confidence". Negotiations on the Codex Alimentarius, bringing the Biosafety Clearing House of the Cartagena Protocol to full operational status and the reinforcement of the WTO SPS Agreement were identified as key priorities.

The trade commissioner concluded: "One extreme of the biotech debate in agriculture often wrongly portrays it as a conflict between consumer sovereignty and corporate power - between caution and recklessness. The other extreme of the debate – especially in the United States - thinks it is a tussle between free trade and protectionism. It is none of these. Strong safety standards are legitimate principles of international law. The best defence of consumer and corporate interests is a regime that is open to new technologies but ensures they are tested in a way that keeps public safety and health paramount. And so long as we apply the same rules and standards across the board the protectionist label doesn't stick. From its side, the biotech industry needs to keep in mind that while technology determines what is possible, consumer demand determines what is economically viable. Public fears may be misplaced, but they cannot and should not be dismissed. We – and by that I mean you the industry and we, public authorities and governments – need to do a better job of setting out the issues."

Source:

Peter Mandelson (14.6.07). Biotechnology and the EU. The European Commission (http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/mandelson/speeches_articles/sppm157_en.htm where the full speech is reproduce)

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