Zero tolerance - acting to prevent widespread GMO contamination

The EU is under significant pressure to weaken its laws on GMOs because of the rise in food and feed prices. Research by Friends of the Earth Europe, Greenpeace and the European Farmers Coordination (CPE) proves that there is no connection between the issues.

The EU's "zero tolerance" policy threatens to be weakened because some parts of the Commission and some national governments have fallen for the biotech industry's pro-GMO hype. The industry is shamefully manipulating the price crisis to force GM crops into Europe. Zero tolerance means that the EU will not allow imported animal feed to contain GMOs that have not been authorised in the EU.

This policy is most detrimental to the interests of the US which rapidly authorises GMOs, does not practice segregation of crops and regularly suffers from a failure to safely regulate GM crops. It would be irresponsible in the extreme for the EU to pander to US interests and weaken its relatively robust biosafety policies to match those of the US.

In any case, dropping this policy will not solve the feed price crisis. The EU can source soy from Brazil and Argentina. These countries take longer than both the EU and the US to approve GMOs and they will not grow GMOs that they cannot export to Europe. Furthermore, a new World Bank report blames biofuels for 75% of the price rises (see links to press stories below).

What should the EU do?
The EU should uphold EU GMO law and maintain a zero tolerance policy on unauthorised GMOs. If it fails to do this it will be ignoring the wishes of European consumers and will allow increased levels of GMO contamination in food and feed around the world. These GMOs will not have been through the EU's risk assessment or management procedures.
If the EU allows contamination of feed, it will open itself to pressure to then allow contamination of food.

What should campaigners do?
Campaigners must call on their member states to maintain the zero tolerance policy.
Member states are likely to be discussing a proposal to weaken the policy at meetings of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health.

Campaigners are asked to take urgent action.

We have written a briefing for campaigners which sets out the issue. Please write to your Agriculture, Environment and Health Ministers to ensure that the member state representatives on the standing committee do not weaken EU law on GMOs. Please call on your Ministers not to fall for the industry hype and to protect the EU's laws on GMOs.
We have written a sample letter for you to use.

Download the campaigner briefing from here.
Download a sample letter for Ministers here.


Important policy documents and resources

In June, a number of key MEPs, including Vice Chairs and members of the Agriculture and Environment committees wrote to President Barrosso and all Commissioners to express their concern about attempts to change EU law without involving Parliament.
Download the letter here.

Earlier in June, Friends of the Earth Europe and Greenpeace were leaked a Commission document which proposes a number of options to weaken EU GMO law. This proposes contamination levels from 0.1% up to 5% (the latter is the preferred option of the US).
Download the leaked options paper from here.
Read our press release here.

In May, Friends of the Earth Europe, Greenpeace and the European Farmers Coordination wrote a policy briefing explaining the issue which we have provided to decision makers and the Commission.
Download the briefing from here (English). Or in French.

Also in May, Friends of the Earth Europe analysed DG AGRI's June 2007 report: "Economic impact of unapproved GMOs on EU feed imports and livestock production". Our analysis showed the report to be deeply flawed in several ways.
Download the commentary from here.

In April an oral question was tabled in Parliament on this issue. We wrote a joint NGO response to the question. This was based on the GMO livestock briefing from December.
Click here for more details on the oral question.
Click here for the livestock briefing.

Press stories on the issue
The Financial times "Fresh fight looms over EU GM crops."
The Guardian "Secret report: biofuel caused food crisis."