France: Biotech test plot destructions stopped, activists change tactics

USDA/FAS GAIN report FR5045

HIGHLIGHTS

Test plot destructions planned by anti-biotech activists for June 18 were stopped by tight security and police protection. The thwarted activists quickly organized a number of community-based meetings to get their message across. The French planting seed industry used the date to clarify their positions on coexistence and on changes in the French evaluation process for biotech crops.

June 18th was meant to be a national anti-biotech day in France. Activist José Bové called for wide spread biotech
test plot destructions in protest of the Government of France’s support (although timid) of biotech research. However, tight security around test plots and the support of local and national police forced the activists to change tactics. They opted for local level public education through hastily organized press events. The French planting seed industry also organized a press conference on June 16th to explain their positions on a number of biotech
policy issues.

1. The Police Prevented Test Plots Destructions – Activists Switched to public education

Every summer for the past few years, activists (Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, and the Confederation Paysanne farmers union) have conducted a campaign of biotech test plot destructions. On June 18, 2005, however, both biotech companies and the police were well prepared.

On June 18, 2005, the police prevented two actions of destruction from happening. The first one close to Toulouse (Southwestern France), where 200 demonstrators gathered in front of the French pro-biotech planting seed company Euralis and then tried to sow a biotech test plot with organic seeds. In this case, they were stopped by the police. The second attempt was Auvergne (Center of France), where a large number of biotech test plots are located, because of the local cooperative Limagrain and its subsidiaries Biogemma and Meristem Therapeutics. The vigilance of the police also stopped demonstrators in this case.

The Activists had anticipated these problems and had oriented their strategies to education: they conducted a number of local meetings in several French regions, informing the public of their views on biotechnology.

2. The Planting Seed Industry Takes Position on Biotech Policy Issues

On June 16, French planting seed organizations (CFS and GNIS) and the crop protection industry organization (UIPP) held a press conference to explain their official positions on a number of biotech policy issues.

On coexistence, they opposed the recommendation made last April by the biotech Parliamentary working group (see Paris report FR5030, dated 4/18/05). The Parliamentary working group recommended that biotech growers take responsibility for cross contamination based on adventitious presence thresholds. The French planting seed industry considers discriminatory against farmers growing biotech crops. In addition, GNIS believes coexistence rules can be set only if the same threshold of 0.9 percent is used at every step of the process (from planting seeds to processing food).

On the evaluation process for new biotech products, the French planting seed industry supports one biotech committee made up of the Commission du Genie Genetique, Commission du Genie Biomoleculaire, and Comite de Biovigilance. This one biotech committee would include a scientific group and a soci-economic group, as proposed by the Parliamentary working group.

These industry announcements come as the French Government is finalizing its Biotech Law. The test of the new is to be analyzed by the French Conseil d’Etat, which is in charge of examining the texts of laws before they are presented for vote to the French Parliament (the Conseil d'Etat reviews new laws and makes sure they are compatible with the Constitution and with already existing laws). The biotech law is expected to include the
transposition of EU Directive 2001/18, national rules on coexistence, and a new evaluation procedure for biotech products. A French Parliament vote is expected in October 2005. If the EU Directive 2001/18 is not transposed into French law by October 2006, France will have to pay penalties set by the European Court of Justice.

France
June 14, 2005

Biotech test plots in danger - U.S. companies getting ready

USDA/FAS GAIN report FR5041

HIGHLIGHTS

Monsanto and Pioneer, the two U.S. companies conducting open-field testing of biotech crops in France in 2005, have taken measures to protect their fields. As a result of the April threat by anti biotech activists to destroy such plots, both companies met with the chief advisors for the French Ministries of Justice, Interior and Agriculture, and claim they received strong and clear support. In addition, local secret services, prefets, and police in the regions of the GM test plots are under alert.

Monsanto and Pioneer are the two U.S. companies conducting open-field testing on GM crops in France in 2005. The crops being tested are glyphosate tolerant corn NK603 (Monsanto and Pioneer), insect resistant and ammonium glufosinate tolerant corn 1507 (Pioneer), insect resistant and herbicide tolerant corn 1507 x NK603 (Pioneer), glyphosate tolerant and insect resistant corn NK603 x MON810 (Pioneer).

At the press conference held by the Parliamentary working group on biotechnology organized last April, the leading anti biotech activist José Bové threatened test plot destructions on June 18 if the “pause” in open field biotech research recommended by the Parliamentary working group was not respected. As June 18th approaches, anti-biotech groups have reiterated their threat and have started to take action.

On May 14, anti-biotech activists introduced standard corn seed into a test plot planted with Monsanto biotech corn NK603, halting the experiment.

Both Monsanto and Pioneer indicated to us that they addressed their concerns to the French Ministries of Interior, Justice and Agriculture, and received strong and clear support from them. In addition, they have been in contact with local secret services, prefectures, and police in the regions where the test plots are conducted. All these services are under alert.

Pioneer indicated that they are fencing in their testing sites, and placing guards and guard dogs at several sites fearing late night attacks. Monsanto also indicated that they are placing guards on select sites for the run up to the June 18 weekend.

Finally, neither company is optimistic they can protect their test plots from the determined activists.