Archived press release

European parliament bans GM food

17 December 1999

The European Parliament has banned GM food from all its restaurants and canteens Friends of the Earth International has learnt. The ban, which follows concerns expressed by the restaurant's customers, is a further blow to the biotech industry which has seen confidence in the controversial technology plummet throughout Europe. Friends of the Earth is urging the European Parliament to remember these concerns when it introduces a new directive early next year which will determine how strict the rules are for planting GM crops.

The ban also highlights differences between the European Parliament and European Commission - which doesn't have a ban. During the WTO discussions in Seattle earlier this month, the European Commission was widely criticised for trying to include GM food in the discussions, despite opposition to this from a number of European Ministers. And yesterday(Thursday) the environment council of the European Parliament strongly criticised the Commission for allowing food containing up to 1 per cent of GM material to be exempt from compulsory GM labelling laws.

Gill Lacroix, Co-ordinator of Friends of the Earth's European GM campaign, said:
“We are delighted that the European Parliament has banned GM ingredients from its restaurants. Their decision mirrors the concerns that are being expressed across Europe about this new technology.

Our elected European Politicians must do more to ensure that European consumers can eat food safe in the knowlege that it hasn't been messed about with in a laboratory. The European Commission must also take note, and avoid making decisions that appear to favourthe biotech industry at the expense of European consumers. Unfortunately there record so far has not been very encouraging”.

Friends of the Earth Europe will be intensifying its GM campaign in the new year.

The European Parliament policy takes the form of an informal agreement between the European Parliamentand the catering companies. It is likely to be included in the contracts concluded following the next invitation to tender.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust