Articles

The establishment of a new EU "technology platform" on biofuels has been enthusiastically welcomed by Europes GMO industry association "Europa-Bio" as "yet another key step in the integration of biotechnology into the infrastructure of the European economy. Biotechnology had the potential to enable the production of fuels and chemicals.</p><p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=44845"></a></p><p><a href="http://ec.europa.eu/research/energy/gp/gp_events/article_1567_en.htm">EU: Launching Conference of the European Technology Platform for Biofuels</a></p><p><a href="http://www.gnn.tv/articles/2355/Green_Fuel_s_Dirty_Secret">Background from the USA: Green Fuel's Dirty Secret</a>

On June 19th the European Food Safety Authority, the European Commissionand national experts from all member states will be meeting to discuss three GMO applications for cultivation: Syngenta's Bt11,Pioneers 1507 and BASF's high starch potato. While some approvals have been granted for food and feed no GMO has been approved within the EU for cultivation since 1998. The meeting, which will also impact the next Council of Environmental ministers on June 27th aims to come to a consensus on the future direction on this highly controversial issue. Environmental groups urge the Commission and member states to re-think their approach to risk assessment and take a precautionary approach.</p><p><a href="http://www.foeeurope.org/publications/2006/hidden_uncertainties.pdf"> FOE: Hidden uncertainties</a></p><p><a href="http://www.saveourseeds.org/downloads/Greenpeace EFSA_demands June 2006.pdf">Greenpeace: Demands to EFSA risk assessment</a></p><p><a href="http://www.saveourseeds.org/downloads/FOE_1507_critique_2006.pdf">FOE: Analysis of Pioneers GM maize 1507 risk assessment</a>

Hans Kast, chairman of EuropaBio and CEO of BASF, said European countries which did not want approved GM goods "should get out of the EU and say we want to be on our own."When asked, in an interview for eupolitix.com, about the aspiration for a GM-free Wales, he said, "I have not heard that the people of Wales want to be GM free. Would Wales be allowed to say we don't want to have cars?"</p><p><a href="http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0300business/0100news/tm_objectid=17170433&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=biotech-boss-slams-gm-free-wales-name_page.html">icWales: - Biotech boss slams GM-free Wales</a></p><p><a href="http://www.eupolitix.com/EN/Interviews/200605/27eeedea-65a3-4b79-b57d-83467c4ff13d.htm">Europolitics.com: Interview with Hans Kast</a>

<a href="http://www.efsa.eu.int/opportunities/recruitment/1508_en.html">EFSA: Call for expressions of interest for a position within EFSA - Senior Scientific Officer for the Unit on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO Unit)</a>

The scientific panel on GMOs of the European Food Safety authority is about to be re-appointed. The 21 scientists from 13 countries have been frequently accused of rubber stamping GMO approvals and neglecting critical science. "EFSA is now installing a new set of scientists and this time, public health and environmental safety must be put before the interests of big business," demanded Friends of the Earth.</p><p><a href="http://www.foeeurope.org/press/2006/AB_30_May_EFSA.htm">FoE: Friends of the Earth demands sacking of industry scientists inEFSA shake up</a>

For the first time an EU member states region has adopted precautionary legal provisions on co-existence, which require the prevention of any GM contamination in neighboring fields at a level of 0,1%. This flies in the face of the EU Commissions position that co-existence measures should be no stricter than ensuring prevention of 0,9% contamination. The co-existence provisions, which under Austrian law are being set at the regional level, also require mandatory regional approval of GM planting and provide for special measures against impairment of protected areas.</p><p><a href="http://www.gmo-free-regions.org/fileadmin/files/styria_gmo_law_2006_en.pdf">Styrian GMO law (English translation)</a></p><p><a href="http://www.gmo-free-regions.org/fileadmin/files/austria_steiermark_gesetz_2006.pdf">Steiermärkisches Gentechnik-Vorsorgegesetz, 2006 (German original)</a>

<p>"The environment minister who gives in and allows GMOs into this country will never be minister again," Nikos Lappas, head of Greece's largest farmers' union, told the International Herald Tribune.</p><p><a href="http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/05/23/news/gmo.php">IHT: In EU, front lines in food war</a></p>

BASF annonced it will not go ahead with its controversialGMO potato experiment in the Irish County of Meath this year, and may cancel it altogether, according to GMO free Ireland.The obligations to reduce therisk of cross-contamination and to pay the costs of an independentmonitoring of health and environmental impacts were inacceptable BASF complained.</p><p><a href="http://www.gmfreeireland.org/press/GMFI26.pdf">GMfree Ireland: BASF admits defeat of GMO potato experiment</a>

The EU Council on Agriculture and Fisheries will discuss within the next days the controversy on seed threshholds, sustainability and the labelling of organic products.</p><p><a href="http://www.eupolitix.com/EN/News/200605/e55ecae4-d5b2-4f32-a04f-3f488438be81.htm">Europolitix.com: Organic food and GM crops top EU agriculture bill</a></p><p><a href="http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/agricult/89630.pdf">EU Council: Background Agriculture and Fisheries Council 22 May 2006</a></p><p><a href="http://www.consilium.europa.eu/cms3_applications/Applications/newsRoom/loadbook.asp?BID=1000&LANG=1&cmsId=364">EU Council: List of preparatory papers</a>

While the Financial Express in India claims that WTO plays god over transgenics right at the moment when India is busy finalising its labeling norms on GMOs, the American Soygrowers Association considers the EU traceability and labeling review a whitewash</p><p><a href="http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=127073">The Financial Express India</a></p><p><a href="http://www.soygrowers.com/newsroom/r051006b.htm">ASA (American Soygrowers Association)</a>