Archived press release

Anger as WTO rules against EU in GM trade dispute

8 February 2006

Friends of the Earth Europe has called for a "root and branch" reform of the world trade system after it was reported that the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has ruled against EU attempts to protect its people and environment from genetically modified (GM) foods and crops.

The international environmental group said that the WTO was undemocratic and biased towards industry and that today's draft ruling would lead to an increase in opposition to GM foods and crops.

The WTO has today sent a draft final ruling on the trans-Atlantic trade dispute over GM foods to the countries involved: the European Union on one side, and the United States, Canada and Argentina on the other.

The draft ruling is secret but reports indicate that the WTO has ruled that:

• National bans on GM products are a barrier to free trade and should be lifted.

• Europe's de facto moratorium between 1998 and 2004 on new GM foods was also a barrier to trade

Friends of the Earth Europe also criticised the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for keeping the report secret saying that it "sums up everything that is wrong with the WTO. It is secretive, biased towards business interests and should not be deciding what people eat."

Friends of the Earth Europe's Trade Co-ordinator Alexandra Wandel said:

"Protecting wildlife, farmers and consumers from the threat of genetically modified crops is far more important than free trade rules. The WTO is secretive, undemocratic and favours big business. A new global trading system is needed that protects people and the environment from the worst excesses of industry."

Adrian Bebb, GM Food Campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe, said:

"It is outrageous that the WTO has ruled that European GM safeguards should be sacrificed to benefit biotech corporations. But this ruling is likely to backfire and lead to even greater opposition to GM food and crops. Consumers worldwide will not be bullied into eating GM foods. European governments must stand up to the WTO and continue to protect our food, farming and the environment from the threat of GMOs."

Friends of the Earth highlights that [2]:

• Opposition to GM foods and crops in Europe has increased since the beginning of the trade dispute. There are now over 170 regions and 4,500 smaller areas that want to be GM-free.

• An alternative dispute settlement procedure is needed to solve trade and environmental conflicts. This could be the International Court of Justice or the Permanent Court of Arbitration. Additionally, the UN Biosafety Protocol is an international agreement already in place that deals with trade in GMOs.

• The first ten years of GM crops have failed to deliver the benefits promised by the biotech industry and have played no role in tackling poverty and hunger [2].

An international campaign against the WTO dispute called "Bite-back - WTO: Hands off our food!" - is supported by 750 organisations representing some 60 million people (see www.bite-back.org). The coalition states that the industry-friendly WTO is not the right place to decide what food Europeans should eat.

The "Bite Back" citizens' objection was initiated by Friends of the Earth International with the support of consumer, development and farmers' groups, trade unions, research institutes and citizens from over 100 countries.

Notes

[1] The WTO report can be downloaded from the website of Friends of the Earth Europe: www.foeeurope.org

as well as a fact sheet on GMOs and the WTO,
GMO_and_WTO_QA_Feb2006.pdf (PDF†)

Briefing pour la presse sur le conflit commercial transatlantique sur les aliments modifiés génétiquement:
GMO_et_WTO_briefing_intermediaire_Feb2006_FR (PDF†)

Les OGM en Europe et l'OMC - Questions réponses
GMO_et_WTO_QR_Feb2006_FR.pdf (PDF†)

FOE report: Who benefits from GM crops, January 2006-02-07
who_benefits_from_gm_crops_Jan_2006.pdf (PDF†)

†To view PDF files you will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Visually impaired users can get extra help with these documents from access.adobe.com.

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