News

Japan: GM Crop Regulation

The latest edition of the Japanese Citizens' Biotechnology Information Center contains several articels about enforced GM crop regulations, guidelines and by-laws.

CBIC's Bio Journal

posted Wednesday, December 28, 2005

EU Commission proposes new organic rules

The EU Commission has published a proposal how to revise the regulation of organic production and labelling. The International Federation of Organic Agriculture IFOAM has cautiously welcomed the proposal. It also entails to set the labelling threshold for accidental contamination with GMO at the same 0,9% as for conventional food and feed. So far no specific standards on accidential contamination are set in the rules, leaving room for different interpretations.

EUROPA - Rapid - Press Releases

IFOAM Press Release

FoE Europe Press Release

posted Thursday, December 22, 2005

Belarus: GM labelling decree enters into force

Labelling of genetically modified food is now law in Belarus. The Belarus government issued a decree requiring labelling of GMOs in spring this year.

Consumers International

posted Thursday, December 22, 2005

Has the EU already lost the WTO dispute on GMOs?

NGO Campaigners at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Hongkong delivered a petition "WTO: Hands Off Our Food" signed by more than 135,000 citizens from 100 countries and more than 740 organisations representing 60 million people against the US driven trade dispute over precautionary EU GMO legislation. WTO Deputy Director General Alejandro Jara at the handover refused to comment on earlier statements of former WTO chief Supachai that the WTO dispute panel had already decided against the EU. The official verdict is expected in January 2006. International activists Vandana Shiva and Jose Bove announced a global campaign against Monsanto: "This is not a case of US versus the EU, but clearly Monsanto versus the civil society".

Friends of the Earth: Bite back

FOE briefing on the US vs. EU WTO GMO dispute

Kerala News: Vandana Shiva takes fight against Monsanto to Hong Kong

posted Thursday, December 15, 2005

French Court acquits GMO protesters

A court in Orleans has acquitted for the first time 49 "faucheurs volontaires" who had destroyed GM maize fields. The judges said the protesters "proved that they committed voluntary acts of damage on the goods of a third party in response to the needs of the situation ... a necessity driven by the uncontrolled release of modified genes that constitutes a real and present danger, and may be a source of undesired contamination and pollution".

EuroNews : French court acquits anti-GMO protesters

Collectif des Faucheurs Volontaires d?OGM (F)

Nouvelle Observateur: Le tribunal correctionnel d'Orléans relaxe 49 faucheurs d'OGM (F)

posted Saturday, December 10, 2005

Iceland: New GE Campaign Website

The GE campaign has launched a new website (in English), providing information and feedback on the situation in Iceland.

Campaign Website

GMOs in Iceland - The Present State of Affairs

posted Friday, December 09, 2005

Ireland: Coexistence Report Published

The Irish Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan T.D., announced the publishing of the 'Report on Coexistence of GM and non-GM Crops in Ireland' and invites observations from interested parties. The report is available on the Department's website.

Department of Agriculture and Food

Report: Coexistence of GM and non-GM Crops in Ireland

posted Friday, December 09, 2005

EU Environment ministers fail to agree on GMO approval and debate next steps

EU environment ministers failed to agree on another GMO approval at their meeting on 2 December in Brussels. 14 countries voted against licensing the import of Monsantos Mon 863 x Mon 810 hybrid, missing however the required qualified majority for rejecting the Commissions proposal to approve the GMO. 8 countries voted in favour and 3 abstained. Ministers also discussed the next steps on the Communities general policy on GMO approvals. Pro GM Commissioners and EU governments seem to put their hope on a pending WTO ruling against the EU, expected in January 2006.

Bloomberg: EU Ministers Fail to Agree on Monsanto Modified Corn

Reuters: EU Eyes WTO Case to Drive Policy Forward on GMOs

EurActive: Loophole clears way for GM maize approval

EU Press Release

Greenpeace briefing on key issues on the Ministers agenda

posted Thursday, December 01, 2005

FoE is calling EU ministers to allow the ban on GMOs

In a press release Friends of the Earth Europe is calling on EU Environment Ministers to allow Europeans to ban GM foods and crops, similar to the example of Switzerland. Because virtually no-one in the EU wants GM food, and EU Ministers should give Regions and citizens the right to ban these foods.

Friends of the Earth: Give us the right to ban GM foods

posted Thursday, December 01, 2005