|
29 january 2001
friends of the earth europe,
brussels
action at the agriculture council !
photos
A small herd of "cows" gathered outside
the European Council building in Brussels
today to support calls for the immediate
labelling of genetically modified (GM) animal
feed. The cows were joined by Friends of the
Earth campaigners carrying placards saying
"Don't make me mad - label all GM feed
now".
Friends of the Earth Europe is supporting
calls from the Austrian and Italian
agriculture ministers for the immediate
labelling of GM animal feed. Since the
banning of meat and bone meal in the wake of
Europe's BSE crisis, imports of animal feed
crops such as soya and maize from the US are
expected to increase. Much of this may
contain GM material. EU Agriculture Ministers
are scheduled to discuss the BSE situation
when they meet in Brussels today.
Friends of the Earth (FoE) believes that
farmers and consumers have a right to know
what is being fed to animals, particularly in
light of the BSE crisis. Labelling would
allow them to avoid GM animal feed if they so
wish. An EU Novel Feed Regulation has been
under discussion in the European Union for
the past three years. The European Commission
promised (in its White Paper on Food Safety)
to present a proposal by September 2000.
Nothing happened then or since, however,
which means that unless emergency measures
are taken, no legislation will be in place in
Member States until 2002 at the earliest.
According to Heike Moldenhauer, Genetech
Expert at Global 2000 (FoE Austria),
"Labelling of GM feed has been postponed
since at least 1997. The Agriculture
Ministers should wake up and take consumer¥s
concerns seriously. It¥s irresponsible to
rush headlong towards the next agriculture
scandal".
Bo Normander, GMO Advisor at NOAH (FoE
Denmark), said: "Strict rules on labelling of
GM animal feed should be applied in order for
farmers - in particular organic farmers - to
be able to avoid GM contamination. Labelling
should appear clearly and contain information
on how and why the product has been
genetically altered".
Gill Lacroix, Biotechnology Coordinator at
FoE Europe said: "A succession of feed crises
have proved it's essential that we know
what's being fed to farm animals. EU citizens
have made it clear they want to avoid GM
food, and labelling will help them do this.
One of the lessons of the BSE crisis is
surely to give people more information about
the food on our plates. Legislation shouldn't
be held up any longer - we need GM feed
labelling now."
Contacts:
Heike Moldenhauer, Genetech Expert, Global
2000 (FoE Austria), T. 43-1-812 573039,
mobile 43-664-357.3517
Bo Normander, GMO Advisor, NOAH (FoE
Denmark), T. 45-3536-1212
Gill Lacroix, Biotechnology Coordinator,
Friends of the Earth Europe, T.
32-2-542.0182, mobile 32-(0)476-244.161
|
