EU says time is ripe for biosafety agreement
Date: 28-Jan-00
Country: CANADA
Negotiations on the U.N. agreement are being closely watched by
international commodity companies, green groups, consumer activists and
U.S. farmers, who last year harvested vast amounts of gene-spliced corn
and soybeans.
"We have less than 36 hours to come to an agreement," EU Environmental
Commissioner Margot Wallstrom told reporters during a briefing at the
biosafety talks. "The EU is committed to conclude at latest by tomorrow
night."
Representatives from nearly 140 countries have been working throughout
the week to craft a pact that addresses a number of competing concerns.
The EU wants to take a cautious approach in regulating trade in all
genetically modified organisms, while Washington contends the focus
should be on protecting biodiversity and not complicating things with
broader issues of food safety.
Flanked by environmental ministers from ten European nations, Wallstrom
identified four key issues she said need to be resolved before the talks
are scheduled to finish on Friday. The EU's priorities, according to
Wallstrom, are:
* The protocol must set out a workable procedure to regulate trade of
genetically modified commodities;
* Shipments of all genetically modified organisms - including crops -
must be accompanied by what the EU refers to as "the necessary
documentation";
* The pact must allow countries to use "the precautionary principle" in
order to make decisions regarding imports of bioengineered crops. That
principle would allow nations to ban genetically altered products from
their markets as a precaution and without final scientific proof that
they are harmful;
* The biosafety protocol must not be subordinate to World Trade
Organisation rules.
The United States, Canada, Argentina, Australia and two other
agricultural exporting nations contend that a U.N. pact should not
become a vehicle for restricting trade in genetically modified crops.
The farm exporting nations are particularly concerned about requiring
advance notice of shipments of bioengineered crops, which they say could
disrupt world food trade without providing any signficant environmental
benefits.
Last year, half of all soybeans and one-third of corn grown by U.S.
farmers were from genetically altered varieties.
Despite disagreement over several objectives set by the EU, U.S.
officials say they are working hard to reach an agreement by the end of
the week.
