Zero tolerance for unauthorised GM crops still under discussion

(22 September 2009) No more soy shipments are reaching European shores from the USA. After several ships were turned away due to traces of Bt maize MON88017 and MIR604 being found in the cargo, all importers are shying away from the risk of such imports. Experts are reckoning with food shortages in the feed industry by December at the latest. Given the situation, German federal and state agriculture ministers are calling for rapid authorisation procedures.

MON88017 and MIR604 are not yet authorised in the EU, although they have been classifed as harmless by EFSA. Agricultural imports with even the minutest trace of unauthorised organisms are unmarketable in the EU on the basis of the so-called zero tolerance regulation. Last year the EU commission for feed imports wanted to introduce a "tolerance level" for unauthorised GM crops, but then instead spoke of speeding up the authorisation process for GM crops approved in producing countries.

EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel has repeatedly urged for expeditious authorisations, in vain. The required majority of Member States was not reached in a vote on the approval of MON88017 in the Standing Committee of the EU Commission on 22 July. It does not look like a qualified majority will reached by the Council of Agriculture Ministers on 19 October either. In this case, the Commission is expected to grant authorisation of the maize without approval of the Member States.

The animal feed industry has pointed out time and again that its competitive position is endangered and is demanding prompt, practical regulations to be introduced.

In response to the situation, German state agriculture ministers also called for speedy authorisation procedures for GM feed and for a "practical use of the zero tolerance regulation" at their autumn conference on 18 September. They requested the Federal Government to lobby for this in the EU Commission. Only Bavaria was of the opinion of sticking to the principles of zero tolerance. Because of reservations expressed by the populace, Bavaria is striving for a "GM-free Union" of European regions.

See also on GMO-Compass:

• Zero tolerance for non-authorised plants under discussion (05 August 2009)
• GMO Database: Authorization in the EU