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New documents released to Friends of the Earth
reveal that the European Commission has been
approving genetically modified (GM) foods and crops
despite having serious doubts over their health and
environmental impacts. Friends of the Earth and
Greenpeace today (Tuesday) called for an immediate
suspension in the use and sale of all GM foods and
crops until the safety issues have been addressed.
The documents reveal the scientific arguments, on
behalf of the European Communities, put forward
behind closed doors in the recent GM trade dispute
[1]. It is unclear whether the UK Government or
other member states had access to the documents when
they voted on key GM decisions. In the documents,
the Commission argues that there are "large areas of
uncertainty" and that "some issues have not yet been
studied at all". They also reveal that:
On human safety: "there simply is no way of
ascertaining whether the introduction of GM products
has had any other effect on human health…there is no
unique, absolute, scientific cut off threshold
available to decide whether a GM product is safe or
not."
On growing GM crops: "It is a reasonable and lawful
position" that insect-resistant crops (the only GM
crops being grown in the EU) should not be planted
until all the effects on the soil are known.
On the environment: a key scientific study that was
used to support the environmental safety of a GM
crop is "scientifically flawed".
There are huge disagreements between the Commission
and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the
EU agency that is responsible for GM risk
assessments. In one example, the Commission
criticises the EFSA for not requiring further
investigations after dismissing scientific evidence
that showed that a certain GMO had negative effects
on earthworms.
A comprehensive report on the new revelations has
been written by Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace
[2].
At the same time as the Commission wrote and
submitted these documents to the WTO highlighting
safety concerns, it:
Pushed through the approval of seven GM foods over
the past 2 years, despite a lack of support from the
majority of member states. The UK voted in support
of six of these approvals;
Required member states to vote twice on proposals to
lift national bans on GM products in five countries
(November 2004 and June 2005). It was defeated in
both votes even though the UK voted for the bans to
be lifted - the only country to do so for all five
votes [3]. Ironically, in the submissions to the WTO,
the Commission gave scientific arguments to justify
the bans.
Commercialised 31 varieties of Monsanto's GM maize
for cultivation in the EU [4].
Friends of the Earth GM Campaigner Clare Oxborrow
said
"This is a political scandal. The European
Commission must call a halt to the sale and growth
of all genetically modified food and crops given the
serious concerns over their safety that have come to
light.
"When the EU Commission broke the moratorium and
forced GM foods into Europe, it told the public they
were safe. But the Commission clearly knew this was
not the case and was prepared to recognise the risk
behind closed doors. The UK Government must now
reveal whether it had access to these documents and
whether it voted in support of GM foods while
knowing the risks they posed."
Genetic Engineering Campaigner for Greenpeace,
Christoph Then said:
"The truth is now out in the open for all to see.
The released EU papers outline detailed scientific
concerns about the safety of genetically modified
food and crops."
"These revelations are astonishing; they show
contempt for humans and the environment, and prove
that Europe's safety net is not working. The
European Food Safety Authority, on which the
Commission depends for advice, comes out
particularly badly and needs to be urgently and
radically reformed."
Notes
1. The Commission's scientific arguments at the
World Trade Organisations are outlined in two
documents:
Comments by the European Communities on the
Scientific and Technical Advice to the Panel,
Geneva, 28 January 2005; and Further scientific or
technical evidence in response to the other parties'
comments by the European Communities, Geneva, 10
February 2005.
Both can be downloaded from
www.foeeurope.org/biteback/EC_case.htm
2. The Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace report
can be downloaded at
www.foeeurope.org/publications/2006/hidden_uncertainties.pdf
(PDF†)
3.
www.foeeurope.org/press/2005/AB_24_June_vote.htm
4. The Commission put 17 varieties of Monsanto's
MON810 maize on the EC Common Catalogue of seeds in
September 2004. A further 14 varieties were added in
December 2005.
†To view PDF files you will need to download Adobe
Acrobat Reader. Visually impaired users can get
extra help with these documents from
www.access.adobe.com
Contact details:
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood Street
LONDON
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Email: info@foe.co.uk
Website:
www.foe.co.uk |
