London (29.6.09)
– The opponents of GM-crops (but not necessarily of imported GM-food
products) continue to press in the European Union for local bans to cultivation
to be made legal.
Austria has often been in the forefront of such movements, attempting in the
past, but without success, the secure approval for a legal ban in Upper Austria;
that request has repeatedly been denied because it needed to have been supported
by scientific evidence which was missing (1, 2).
The history of GM-crop approvals in the EU has for more than a decade been
one of procrastination and obstruction. No qualified majority vote is ever
achieved and no GM-crop has been approved for cultivation since that of Bt-maize
MON810 ten years or so ago. Since all EU approvals refer to the whole of the
European Union, those countries which may wish to allow the cultivation of
GM-crops are endlessly block by those which do not.
In a new proposal (3, 4), Austria is proposing an opt out mechanism under
which individual Member States will decide for themselves whether or not to
allow such cultivation. The move is reported as supported by Bulgaria, Ireland,
Greece, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland and Slovenia. Last
March, a declaration by the Dutch delegation proposed to separate the market
authorisation of GMOs from their cultivation and give member states total
control over decisions on plantings. While there may be advantages in breaking
the log jam for countries which do wish to go ahead and feel blocked by the
others, the proposal has met universal approval because it would have the
effect of undermining the single market (5).
Sources:
1. EU rejects Austrian GM-free zone. Food Navigator (4.9.03) (http://www.foodnavigator.com/Legislation/EU-rejects-Austrian-GM-free-zone)
2. Upper Austria may not prohibit the general use of gene technology.
Co-Extra (2006) (http://www.coextra.eu/country_reports/news947_en.html)
3. Austria proposes GMO 'opt-out' clause. EurActiv (25.6.09) (http://www.euractiv.com/en/cap/austria-proposes-gmo-opt-clause/article-183467)
4. Genetically modified organisms – a way forward. Council
of the European Union (24.6.09) (http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/09/st11/st11226-re02.en09.pdf)
5. Farming today. BBC Radio 4 (24.6.09) (including a debate on the
legality for EU member states to opt out from growing GM crops) (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qj8q)
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