|
August 5, 2009
Source:
GMO Compass
Zero tolerance of
non-authorised genetically modified plants in the EU is once
again under discussion. The reason being the delivery of 180,000
tonnes of soy meal from the USA rejected by the EU mid-July
because traces of MON88017 maize, which is not authorised in the
EU, were found.
In a letter addressed to the EU Standing Committee on the
Food Chain, the European umbrella association of farmers,
farmers’ cooperatives and compound feed manufacturers warned of
a shortage of soy-based feeds.
About half of all protein in feed in the EU comes from soy
beans. Because of drought and yield losses in Brazil, European
meat producers have had to rely heavily this year on imports of
soy feed from the USA. There, many GM crops are cultivated which
are not yet authorised in the EU for food or feed. Even slight
traces of less than 0.1 percent can lead to agricultural imports
being unmarketable in the EU. An absolutely effective separation
of dust and admixtures from such GM crops along the entire
production and transport chain is only possible with a great
deal of technical outlay. As far as American agriculturists are
concerned, the European market has lost its importance in recent
years.
Last year the EU commission tried to introduce a tolerance limit
of 0.1 percent for non-authorised GM crops, but then declared it
would speed up the authorisation process for GM plants
authorised in producer countries. The delays continue, however.
In their letter, the European agriculture associations name the
"enforcement of EU food and feed regulations" as the reason for
the problem, not worries about security risks.
Bt maize MON88017, whose detection in the soy meal delivery lead
to the import ban, has been authorised for cultivation in the
USA since 2005. That same year, an application was also
submitted for its approval as an import and for its use as food
and feed in the EU. In April 2009 the responsible scientific
panel of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
issued its security risk assessment opinion classifying MON88017
maize as harmless. Based on that, the EU Commission prepared a
proposal for granting authorisation, but this did not receive
the required qualified majority of Member States when the
Standing Committee voted.
MON88017 maize is resistant to the
European corn borer and is also pesticide-tolerant.
Potential risks to the environment were assessed in a joint
research project at the request of the German Federal Ministry
of Education and Research (BMBF). |
|
|
|
See also on GMO-Compass:
Further information:
|
|
