Back
EU approves genetically modified foods despite serious concerns
New documents reveal EU Commission's double standards
Brussels, 18 April 2006 - New documents released to Friends of the Earth
reveal that the European Commission has been approving genetically modified
(GM) foods and crops despite having serious doubts over their health and
environmental impacts. Both Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace have today
called for a suspension in the use and sale of all GM foods and crops until
the safety issues have been addressed.
The documents reveal the scientific arguments put forward behind closed
doors in the recent GM trade dispute (1). In them, the Commission argues
that there are "large areas of uncertainty" and that "some issues have not
yet been studied at all". They also reveal that:
* On human safety: "there simply is no way of ascertaining whether the
introduction of GM products has had any other effect on human health...there
is no unique, absolute, scientific cut off threshold available to decide
whether a GM product is safe or not."
* On growing GM crops: "It is a reasonable and lawful position" that
insect-resistant crops (the only GM crops being grown in the EU) should not
be planted until all the effects on the soil are known.
* On the environment: a key scientific study that was used to support the
environmental safety of a GM crop is "scientifically flawed".
* There are huge disagreements between the Commission and the European Food
Safety Authority (EFSA), an EU agency. In one example, the Commission
criticises the EFSA for not requiring further investigations after
dismissing scientific evidence that showed that a certain GMO had negative
effects on earthworms.
A comprehensive report on the new revelations has been written by Friends of
the Earth and Greenpeace (2).
At the same time as the Commission was writing and submitting these
documents to the WTO highlighting safety concerns, it:
* pushed through the approval of seven GM foods over the past 2 years,
despite a lack of support from member states;
* required member states to vote twice on proposals to lift national bans on
GM products in five countries (November 2004 and June 2005). It was defeated
in both votes (3). Ironically, in the submissions to the WTO, the Commission
gave scientific arguments to justify the bans.
* Commercialised 31 varieties of Monsanto's GM maize for cultivation in the
EU. (4)
"The sale and growing of all genetically modified food and crops in the
European Union must be halted immediately, given the serious concerns over
their safety that have now come to light," Adrian Bebb, GM Campaigner for
Friends of the Earth Europe, said.
"This is a political scandal. When the EU Commission broke the moratorium
and forced new genetically modified foods into Europe, it told the public
they were safe. Now we know that behind closed doors the Commission was
arguing the complete opposite," Bebb added.
"These double standards of the EU Commission clearly show that public health
and environmental protection are being compromised by an institution intent
on promoting trade and business interests at any costs," he said.
Christoph Then, Genetic Engineering Campaigner for Greenpeace, said:
"The truth is now out in the open for all to see. The released EU papers
outline detailed scientific concerns about the safety of genetically
modified food and crops."
"These revelations are astonishing; they show contempt for humans and the
environment, and prove that Europe's safety net is not working. The European
Food Safety Authority, on which the Commission depends for advice, comes out
particularly badly and needs to be urgently and radically reformed."
Notes to the Editor
1. The Commission's scientific arguments at the World Trade Organisations
are outlined in two documents:
Comments by the European Communities on the Scientific and Technical Advice
to the Panel, Geneva, 28 January 2005; and Further scientific or technical
evidence in response to the other parties' comments by the European
Communities, Geneva, 10 February 2005.
Both can be downloaded from http://www.foeeurope.org/biteback/EC_case.htm
2. The Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace report can be downloaded at
http://www.foeeurope.org/biteback/download/hidden_uncertainties.pdf
3. http://www.foeeurope.org/press/2005/AB_24_June_vote.htm
4. The Commission put 17 varieties of Monsanto's MON810 maize on the EC
Common Catalogue of seeds in September 2004. A further 14 varieties were
added in December 2005.
Contacts:
Friends of the Earth:
Adrian Bebb +49 1609 490 1163 (mobile)
Helen Holder +32 474 857638 (mobile)
Greenpeace:
Christoph Then +49 1718780832 (mobile)
Katharine Mill, media officer, tel +32 (0)2 274 1903 or +32 (0)496 156 229
