Fischler to unveil key GMO recommendations
By Lisbeth Kirk
Are big biotechnology companies like Monsanto to pay or is it up to famers if the use of genetic modified seeds contaminates biological crops?
This key question was not settled during a meeting of EU farm ministers on Monday, 26 May, in Brussels to discuss coexistence between GMO and traditional production.
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The responsible European commissioner, Franz Fischler, announced that recommendations on co-existence would be presented by the Commission in July.
The task is to ensure "freedom for production", whether farmers want to use GMO seeds or biological, he explained to the press following the ministers' discussion.
"There are a series of possibilities open for us to reduce risks considerably," Mr Fischler declared and mentioned the use of buffer zones and rotation of crops.
No poison
The Commissioner stated, however, that the whole issue was purely economical and had nothing to do with risk or risk management.
"The term contamination is used as if GMO was a poison," he declared. "We are dealing with authorised GMOs with no risk to health," the Commissioner added.
Nine-page strategy paper presented in March
In a nine-page strategy paper presented earlier this year by Mr Fischler, the biological farmers will have the burden of proving that their products are not contaminated with genetically modified organisms (GMO).
The paper was criticised by environmental groups for putting the burden of costs and measures on those who wish to stay GMO free.
A number of EU countries have kept a ban on new GM products since 1999, which has recently brought the European Union on collision course with the US.
Earlier this month, the United States filed a lawsuit with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) complaining about the European moratorium on bio-engineered crops.
Since October 1991 the commercial release of only 18 GMOs have been authorised in the EU.