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EU Action Plan on organic food and farming:
GMO co-existence means no existence for organics

During the Commission's Hearing on the implementation of the EU Action Plan on Organic Food and Farming, Friends of the Earth Europe have challenged the European Commission to do more to protect organic farming from the contamination of genetically modified crops Click on the photos to get high resolution images. These photos are free of use

Friends of the Earth Europe have challenged the European Commission to do more to protect organic farming from the contamination of genetically modified (GM) crops. Today (Thursday 22 January), the Commission is holding a one-day Hearing on the implementation of the EU Action Plan on Organic Food and Farming (1).

Friends of the Earth Europe and GLOBAL 2000 (FoE Austria) strongly support the implementation of the EU Action Plan. However, serious questions remain on how to protect high organic standards from contamination from neighbouring GM crops. The co-existence issue should be fully addressed in the Action Plan.

Iris Strutzmann, agriculture campaigner, GLOBAL 2000 (FoE Austria) said:
"Organic farming is the best form of sustainable agriculture we have. Allowing that to be damaged by contamination from unwanted GM crops is irresponsible and foolish. Co-existence between the two is virtually impossible. The Commission should stand up for the environment and the consumer and prevent the contamination of organic foods."

To protect organic farming Friends of the Earth is calling for the EU to:
- stop any release of GM crops until the question of its co-existence with GM-free agriculture is solved
- set a zero GM contamination limit for seeds (0,1% statistically), as already introduced in Austria

For a strong Action Plan on Organic Farming, Friends of the Earth is calling for:
- a clear strategy to ensure synergies of national Action Plans
- an information campaign to stress the positive impacts of organic food and farming on  environment and health
- increased research, education and training for organic farming
- use the opportunities existing within the new, reformed Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to finance organic farming.

CONTACT:
Iris Strutzmann, agriculture campaigner, GLOBAL 2000: +43 664 308 65 47 (mobile)
Adrian Bebb, GMO campaigner, Friends of the Earth Europe: +49 1609 490 1163 (mobile)

NOTES:

(1) More information about the hearing at
http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/events/organic/index_en.htm

Friends of the Earth Europe campaigns for sustainable and fair societies and for the protection of the environment,
unites more than 30 national organisations with thousands of local groups
and is part of the world's largest grassroots environmental network, Friends of the Earth International.