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EU Ministers vote to keep GM food bans
24 June 2005
Environment Ministers from across Europe voted today to allow five countries to maintain bans on genetically modified (GM) crops and foods. Friends of the Earth welcomed today's vote but criticized the UK Government for once again siding with the GM industry, and voting to have the bans overturned [1].
EU Ministers rejected proposals by the European Commission to lift the GM bans, imposed on safety grounds by Austria, Luxembourg and Germany, France and Greece. Attempts by the European Commission to overturn the bans follow a dispute over GM foods at the World Trade Organisation, where the United States claims they are a barrier to trade. UK environment minister Elliot Morley re-affirmed the current Government's pro-GM stance by insisting in media interviews this morning that he would be voting for the Commission's proposals to lift the bans.
Between 1997 and 2000, the five EU countries banned a variety of GM crops on safety grounds. The stance was opposed by the European Commission who asked all EU member states to vote on proposals requiring the five countries to lift their bans within 20 days. Member states voted on this issue last November, but the results were inconclusive. Today's vote by Environment Ministers (the first on GM since 1998) is a significant shift in position across the EU against GM crops and foods.
Friends of the Earth's GM campaigner Emily Diamand said:
"Today's vote to allow EU countries to maintain their bans on GM food and crops, is a vote for commonsense, and a victory for European consumers, who are overwhelmingly opposed to GM food.
But the actions of the UK today have been appalling. It is bad enough that Elliot Morley should ignore public opinion on this important issue. But it is outrageous that he should try and stop other countries saying no to GM. His actions will do nothing to improve the UK's battered reputation on this issue, or help its poor image in Europe."
Note
1. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4618547.stm
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jun 2008
