Brussels, February 8, 2006: Yesterday, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) issued their findings on the trade dispute over biotech crops. This case was brought forward by the US, Canada and Argentina against the European Union. The complainants have also been supported by a number of other countries including Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Thailand, Uruguay. The case was not brought forward by the biotechnology industry. 

News reports suggest that the WTO has found that the EU Member States have not properly implemented the EU rules on biotech crops, nor is the EU approving products in a timely manner. 

The European biotechnology industry, like the European Commission, supports choice - the choice to grow, import and consume approved GM products.  The industry continues to back a science-based regulatory system to ensure farmers have the choice to use sustainable techniques that best meet the needs of their farming operations. The EU’s regulatory procedure for GM crops sets in place mandatory requirements to ensure that consumers are provided with information that allows them to make informed choices about whether or not to purchase these products.  Countries that do not implement the EU rules, which they themselves put in place, are denying that choice. 

The dispute over biotech crops is not about safety, the crops being grown around the world have passed stringent food, feed and environmental safety standards and are as safe as,  or safer than, conventional crops. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization, The World Health Organization and the European Commission have all found that the approved crop biotechnology products on the market today do not show any risks to human health or the environment. 

Since the case was launched in 2003, farmers around the world have been choosing to plant biotech crops at unprecedented rates. Last year alone, more than 90 million hectares were sown with biotech crops by over 8.5 million farmers in 21 countries including European countries - the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Portugal, Romania and Spain. 

“Scientists worldwide have shown GM crops to be safe, farmers around the world are increasingly choosing to grow GM crops, the food industry is increasingly supportive and the general public / consumers are increasingly open to it,” says Simon Barber, Director of the Plant Biotechnology Unit at EuropaBio – the EU association for bioindustries. 

Q&A on the WTO trade dispute over genetically modified products

http://www.europabio.org/articles/WTO%20QA%2006.02.06.doc

For further information, please contact

Simon Barber, Director Plant Biotech Unit
Tel: +32 2 735 03 13 Mob: +32 476 442 420
s.barber@europabio.org

Adeline Farrelly, Communications Director
Tel: +32 2 739 1174 Mob: +32 475 93 17 24
Fax: +32 2 735 4960
e-mail: a.farrelly@europabio.org

About EuropaBio

EuropaBio is the EU association for bioindustries. EuropaBio has 60 direct members operating worldwide and 25 national biotechnology associations representing some 1500 small and medium sized enterprises involved in research and development, testing, manufacturing and distribution of biotechnology products.

http://www.europabio.org