EU's GMO Feed Measures Not Likely Until Next Week
Date: 15-Apr-05
Country: BELGIUM
The EU had been expected to pass the measure this week but the spokesman said it would likely not be finished until Monday or Tuesday despite an accelerated decision-making process.
"Now it seems that it's not going to be likely to do it in time for the weekend, so it's going to be early next week," Commission spokesman Philip Tod said.
Last month Swiss agrochemicals group Syngenta said some of its maize seeds exported to the European Union from the United States were mistakenly contaminated with Bt-10, an insect-resistant strain not approved for distribution.
The 25-nation bloc is working on measures that would require the United States to certify that its exports of corn gluten feed are free of Bt-10.
The Commission has asked Syngenta to provide a detection method for Bt-10, which got mixed up with another, authorised biotech maize called Bt-11. Syngenta has not yet done so.
The EU and European consumers have been more reluctant than the United States to embrace GMO products. Creators of GMO foods says they are safe.
