press release
friends of the earth europe
brussels (belgium) /geneva (switzerland),
august 26, 2004
gm trade war outcome delayed
bush fails to win gm case before
election
Friends of the Earth revealed today that
scientists have been called by the World
Trade Organisation to debate the safety of
Genetically Modified (GM) foods and crops
[1].
This move is a blow to the Bush
Administration - which fought to stop any
debate over scientific safety of GM – and
means that the outcome of the US-Europe trade
dispute on GM foods is substantially delayed
and will not be known before the US
presidential election. [2]
The United States, Canada and Argentina
started proceedings last year in the World
Trade Organisation (WTO) over Europe's
position on GM foods. The WTO set up a
three-person Panel to meet in secret to
decide on the case.
In recent months the US Government has been
fighting to prevent the Panel from calling in
scientists and has argued their case on
narrow trade rules. The European Union
however has questioned whether the WTO is the
appropriate place to settle such disputes and
has been pushing for scientists to be
involved in the debate. In a previous case
over the use of beef hormones the scientific
debate lasted for over 600 days.
In May this year campaigners delivered a
petition to the WTO signed by more than
100,000 citizens from 90 countries and more
than 544 organisations representing 48
million people. The signatories, including
Archbishop Desmond Tutu and French small
farmers' leader Jose Bové, have called on the
WTO not to undermine the sovereign right of
any country to protect its citizens and the
environment from GM foods and crops. [3]
Adrian Bebb of Friends of the Earth Europe
said:
"The first round of this dispute may have
gone to Europe but the long term implications
of this case could be devastating for
everyone. The World Trade Organisation is a
secretive and undemocratic organisation and
should not be deciding what we eat. The long
term effects of GM foods and crops are
unknown. Every country should have the right
to put public safety before the economic
might of the biotechnology industry."
for more information
:
contact Friends of the Earth in Europe:
Adrian Bebb, GM expert: +49 1609 490 1163
(mobile)
or email
Alexandra Wandel, Trade expert: +49 172 748
39 53 (mobile)
or email
notes
[1] The WTO Panel has decided that the case
raises scientific and technical issues on
which the Panel might benefit from expert
advice. Scientists will now be appointed by
the WTO to prepare an advisory report in
writing from an expert review group.
[3] visit
www.bite-back.org
for
more information about the petition to the
WTO signed by more than 100,000 citizens from
90 countries and more than 544 organisations
representing 48 million people.
