MEDIA ADVISORY -- FRIENDS OF THE EARTH
INTERNATIONAL
MOMENT OF TRUTH OVER GENETICALLY MODIFIED
ORGANISMS (GMOs): UNITED STATES TO FILE WTO
COMPLAINT
May 13, 2003 Washington (US) / Brussels
(Belgium) -- The United States administration
is to bring a case in the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) against the European Union
over Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs),
according to media reports today [1]. The US
case may be joined by Argentina and Canada,
large-scale GMO producers, and by Egypt,
hoping for a US free trade deal later this
year.
The US will argue that the current
European Union (EU) moratorium on the
commercial development of GM foods is an
“illegal” trade barrier under WTO rules. But
environment pressure group Friends of the
Earth International is warning the move is
the latest in a series of attempts by the US
to block other countries’ decisions to
protect their environment, human health and
social standards.
xThe move threatens to bring the full
force of WTO sanctions to bear in order to
force GM food into European markets
regardless of the wishes of European
consumers. The US is likely to attempt to
prevent any effective labelling of food
derived from GM ingredients.
US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick
has threatened a WTO case over GM on several
occasions, most recently in January this
year, but is believed to have been told by
the White House to back off during attempts
to secure European support for the invasion
of Iraq. The US Administration has been
lobbied heavily by GM companies such as
Monsanto (MON) and by big US farming
interests such as the National Corn Growers
Association.
WTO procedures are complex and secretive,
and have been heavily criticised by
environmentalists and others for their
pro-business bias. In particular, WTO rules
are hostile to the fundamental precautionary
principle. [A full Friends of the Earth
briefing on the WTO disputes procedure is
available from the Friends of the Earth
London press office: + 44-20 7566 1649].
“This may be the moment of truth for the
future of GM food in Europe, and future trade
relations between the European Union and
United States,” according to Larry Bohlen of
Friends of the Earth in Washington. “It is
clear that this US Administration, backed by
some of the richest and most powerful
lobbyists in US politics, is determined to
use the secretive, biased and undemocratic
procedures of the WTO to bully people into
accepting food they do not want,“ Bohlen
added.
Juan Lopez of Friends of the Earth in
Brussels added : “If this attempt succeeds,
the US will force GM foods onto European
markets regardless of the wishes of
consumers. The European Commission and
national governments must find the courage to
stand up to this outrageous piece of
bullying. Decisions over the future of GM
crops in Europe must not be made in the
George Bush White House.”
(ENDS)
Note to editors:
1. The Financial Times reports today that
“The US is set to announce today it will file
a long-anticipated case in the World Trade
Organisation aimed at forcing the European
Union to lift its de facto moratorium on
genetically modified foods, according to
administration and congressional officials.”
The Associated Press reports that “President
George W. Bush's administration has decided
to bring a trade case against the European
Union over Europe's ban on imports of
genetically modified food, congressional
officials say.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION please contact
:
Friends of the Earth in WASHINGTON:
Larry Bohlen +1-202-783-7400 ext 251
Friends of the Earth in BRUSSELS:
Adrian Bebb: +49-816699 24 56 (mobile)
Juan Lopez: +32-2-477391496 (mobile)
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