Home > Press releases > 2002
08 Oct 2002
On Wednesday 9th October hundreds of people from across Europe will march through the streets of Brussels, pushing supermarket trolleys filled with food free from genetically modified (GM) ingredients. The trolley procession, organised by Friends of the Earth, will call on European ministers to take urgent action to protect European food from GM contamination. The EU is due to make several important decisions on GM food and crops over the coming weeks.
The trolley procession will pass through the streets of Brussels, stopping
off at the European Parliament (Place du Luxembourg), before finally
gathering at the European Council (Place de Schumann) at 14.00, where
EU delegations - who are meeting to discuss GM labelling proposals -
will be handed GM-free food specialities from across Europe.
Friends of the Earth’s campaigns director, Liana Stupples said:
“Consumers across Europe have made it clear that they want
the right to choose over GM food. Current European labelling
laws enable them to avoid most food containing GM ingredients,
but the rules do not go far enough. The European Parliament
has already voted for tough new GM labelling
regulations. It’s essential that European
Ministers do not water down these proposals when they
meet in Luxembourg next week. The interests of
the public and environment must come before those of the
biotech industry.”
Later this month, EU Member States will make several important decisions concerning GM food [1].
Friends of the Earth welcomes proposals by the European Commission
and European Parliament to label all GM food and animal feed. This would
strengthen existing labelling regulations and give consumers a choice
about eating GM-derived food. But an attempt by the Danish Presidency
to weaken the proposals raises serious concerns.
The Danes have introduced 'transitionary measures' into the draft labelling
proposals. These would allow food contaminated by GMOs that haven't
been authorised in Europe - up to a 1% threshold - to be sold in Europe
for three years, without being labelled. For example this could mean
that for a period of three years, the equivalent of one in every hundred
tomatoes sold could be a GM variety unapproved in Europe, and - because
it wouldn't need to be labelled - would be almost impossible for consumers
to avoid.
The proposal to allow genetic pollution in seed lots is even more worrying. Since seeds are at the beginning of the food chain, this proposal threatens the supply of GM-free food.
According to the latest opinion polls, 71% of European citizens are opposed to GM food [2]. The Brussels trolley parade will remind European politicians about the public’s overwhelming rejection of this new technology, and will urge ministers to vote in favour of labelling of all food and animal feed derived from GMOs and against proposals to allow ‘accidental’ genetic pollution in food, animal feed and seeds.
European ministers are under increasing pressure from the biotech industry and the US to allow more GMOs into Europe. During the Council meetings in October they might even decide to drop the EU-wide moratorium (import ban) on approving any new GMOs. It is far too early to even consider such a step. The moratorium should be upheld until full safety regulations against the risks of GMOs are in place, and laws requiring the labelling of all GM food should be fully operational.
The trolley procession will start from Spanjeplein/Place d’Espagne
(facing Brussels Central Station) at 12 noon. It will stop at the Parliament
building (Place du Luxembourg) at 13.00, from where it will go to the
European Council building (Place de Schumann), arriving approximately
14.00, Here there will be speeches from key speakers, including: Alexander
de Roo, Member of the European Parliament and Alan Simpson, a Member
of the UK Parliament. A petition and GM-free food will be offered to
the permanent environmental representatives of the EU Member States
who are meeting on the 9th October to discuss the proposals
for traceability and GM labelling.
For more details: see the special trolley action website:
www.foeeurope.org/GMOs/trolley_action/home.htm
. This website is regularly updated.
During the parade, delegations from the following countries will be
present:
Austria: Global 2000
Belgium: Velt, Les Amis de la Terre
Croatia: Zelena Akcija
Denmark: NOAH
England, Wales and NI: Friends of the Earth
France: Les Amis de la Terre
Germany: BUND
Ireland: Earthwatch
Italy: Amici Della Tierra
Luxembourg: Mouvement Ecologique
The Netherlands: Milieudefensie
Scotland: Friends of the Earth Scotland
Spain: Amigos de la Tierra
Sweden: Miljöförbundet Jordens Vänner
Representatives of the above organisations are available for interview
before, during and after the trolley action.
[1] On 16th October the Agricultural and Fisheries Council will vote upon the draft EU legislation on GM food/feed (COM (2001) 425 final), which deals with authorization of genetically modified food and animal feed, and also with traceability and labelling of GM food and GM animal feed.
[2] www.europa.eu.int/comm/public_opinion/archives/eb/ebs_134_en.pdf
Contact details:
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood St.
LONDON
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Web: www.foe.co.uk/feedback.html
Media team
