EU commission calls for GM contamination of organic food to be allowed

23 July 2003

Brussels, 23 July. Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and the European Environmental Bureau condemned the European Commission' s recommendation on co-existence between genetically modified (GM) and non-GM crops.

The Commission says that GM contamination of organic crops should be allowed. It says that new GM labelling rules - which will require products to carry a label if they contain an ingredient containing 0.9 per cent or more GM material to be labelled - should apply to "conventional and organic farming alike". The environmental NGOs are urging member states to refuse to allow this to happen.

GM-free areas

But the Commission gave a boost to Friends of the Earth's GM-free Britain campaign by recommending that "measures of a regional dimension could be considered" to prevent GM contamination. This opens the door to regional bans on GM crops.

In October last year, Friends of the Earth launched its GM-free Britain (www.gmfreebritain.com) campaign, to persuade local authorities to take action on GM food and crops. On 23 July, Somerset County Council voted to go GM-free, and Cumbria County Council will vote in the issue on 24 July. The Welsh National Assembly, Devon, Dorset, Lancashire, Cornwall, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, South Gloucestershire and the Lake District National Park have already backed GM-free policies.

European Commission's Recommendation

The European Commission's recommendation (which has yet to be published) will be discussed by the Commission. It will not be legally binding. EU member states therefore have the right to take more far reaching measures to protect organic and conventional crops from GM contamination. Amendments, adopted by the European Environment Ministers, say that "member states may take measures to avoid the unintended presence of GMs in other products". The amendments also say that responsibility for avoiding genetic pollution should lie with the GM producers.

"Moves to allow organic crops to be contaminated with GM pollution are totally unacceptable, and could lead to the death of organic food and farming," said Friends of the Earth Europe's GM Campaigner, Clare Oxborrow. "Member States should reject this recommendation and bring in tough legislation to prevent genetic contamination and ensures real consumer choice.

"Local authorities across the UK have taken steps to protect their food, farming and environment by introducing GM-free policies. The Commission's call for regional measures to stop GM pollution is a welcome boost, and should encourage even more councils to take action."

There is widespread scientific agreement that commercially grown GM crops will contaminate conventional and organic farms over an extensive area. Therefore, the green NGO's are urging Member States to take appropriate measures, such as creating GMO free zones and the adoption of legislation that establishes zero tolerance towards the GM contamination of seeds.

"Member states should make clear in their national legislation that GM producers are the ones responsible for avoiding GMOs in food, feed and especially seeds," said Eric Gall from Greenpeace. "According to the polluter pays principle, GM producers should also bear the cost of anti-contamination measures".

"The right to eat GM-free food will be severely compromised if GM crops are grown on a large scale," said Mauro Albrizio from the European Environmental Bureau. "The Commission must accept that no one wants GM foods and that public authorities have every right to protect their consumers and environment."

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