GM trade war - who decides what we eat?14 May 2003
Friends of the Earth urged the European Union to staunchly defend the public's right to exercise choice over GM food, following the announcement that the United States has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over Europe's de-facto moratorium. And if the UK Government does not strongly defend the European Union case, it will render the UK's own public debate on the future of the GM food meaningless.
The process for dealing with WTO disputes is complex and slow but a consultation period will stretch over the summer, with Europe not due to make its first written submission until November, leaving the dispute hanging not only over the UK's public consultation, but also the WTO Ministerial in Cancun, Mexico, scheduled to take place in September. And the secretive nature of the WTO dispute resolution process will mean that public concerns will not be voiced and cannot even be considered.
If the US is successful, the dispute panel ruling is binding and the EU will be forced to either alter its policy toward GM crops or face economic sanctions across a range of sectors. Friends of the Earth is concerned that the US action, almost certainly a result of pressure from the biotech industry, could remove the public's right to choose on GM food.
"The Bush White House and American business interests should not have the right to make decisions about what people in Europe get to eat," said Friends of the Earth Policy and Campaigns Director, Liana Stupples. "But the current WTO system means that this could be the case. The British Government and the European Union must act to defend our right to eat what we choose.
"The British public do not want GM food and they have made this clear time and time again. The United States has become the bully in the world playground, forcing through the big business agenda at the expense of democracy and people power. This action against the EU could be just the first assault on consumer rights."
Get these updates first
If you would like these news updates to be emailed to you as soon as they come out, then join our real food mailing list.
Register Here
More news >
