International | food | 2006-05-10 | print |
Source: Greenpeace
Right to remain GE-free overrides WTO ruling
Greenpeace was dismissive of a
World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling, due to be released today, on a
US-sponsored case which was attempting to force EU countries to accept
genetically engineered (GE) organisms, in spite of overwhelming public
opposition in Europe.
Greenpeace called the WTO 'unqualified' to deal with issues around GE
organisms and rejected the verdict of the US-driven court case backed by
Canada and Argentina which was attempting to use the WTO to force GE
organisms onto the EU.
"All this verdict proves is that the WTO is unqualified to deal with
complex scientific and environmental issues, as it puts trade interests
above all others. Its only effect has been to reinforce the
determination of EU countries to resist bullying by pro-GE governments
and to say no to GE crops and food," said Eric Gall, Greenpeace EU
policy adviser.
Despite initial US claims of victory, the interim ruling showed that the
WTO panel rejected many of the US arguments, and only gave the EU a
'slap on the wrist' for taking too much time to apply its own
legislation. The panel came out against national bans on GE, but did
concede that national bans are justifiable, provided a risk assessment
is conducted.
"The US claims of victory are exaggerated, and will not deter the
increasing number of countries in the EU and around the world which act
to stop the release of GE organisms," said Daniel Mittler, Greenpeace
International WTO expert. "While the WTO ruling fails to uphold the
precautionary principle, which should be the basis of GE organism
policies globally, it does affirm that governments can continue to ban
GE organisms if they so wish."
"There are now 12 GE organism bans in seven EU countries, more than in
2003 when the US presented its case against the EU to the WTO. Only last
week, Poland banned the cultivation of genetically engineered crops; a
slap in the face to US agro-chemical giants, as Poland is the second
biggest agricultural food basket in the EU" said Eric Gall Greenpeace EU
policy adviser.
Documents submitted by the EU to the WTO reveal that the Commission
defended the "large areas of uncertainty" regarding the impact of GE
organisms on health and the environment, and that "some issues have not
yet been studied at all". On 12 April, the Commission announced that
it was taking steps to improve the risk assessment of GE organisms;
current procedures are deemed insufficient and untransparent by most
European governments.
Source: Greenpeace
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