23/02/2011

The European Union agreed Tuesday (22^nd Feb) to replace a policy of "zero tolerance" of biotech crops, which had seen shipments contaminated with small amounts of non-EU approved GM organisms being rejected, with new acceptance of levels of 0.1%, although the decision still has to be ratified in 12 weeks.

The move means the EU is still closed to the vast majority of GM goods, but under the agreement would make allowances for levels of feed chain contamination that shippers have said is inevitable given the prevalence of biotechnology. The European Commission has said the move "will improve the legal certainty for importers of feed from third countries."

Many in the industry were insistent that the concession was passed; they claimed continued rejection would lead to feed shortages. NFU Scotland and Fefac, the European feed industry group, who are now calling for a higher threshold, have said the policy shift will reduce costs and improve trade.

The decision will mainly be of benefit to North American and some South American countries such as Brazil, who supply most of the 4m tonnes of corn and 33m tonnes of soybean meal imported into the EU.

Relaxed tolerance will inevitably lead to food contamination

However, the decision has sparked controversy among many, who maintain that GMOs are poorly tested and therefore potentially have inherent health risks, and that the decision goes against the wishes of European citizens. Pete Riley of GM Freeze said, “EU member states have failed to respect the wishes of their citizens- the majority of whom remain opposed to GM crops entering the food chain.

“Instead they have been swayed by the hyperbole of industry into weakening the GMO regulations. The presence of GM maize aimed to supply the ethanol industry not the food industry raises the very real prospect of contamination of feed with GMOs which are potentially harmful. Food contamination will surely be inevitable as standards are relaxed.

“The UK government’s support  of the EC will be remembered if there are problems in the future and the UK’s food manufacturers, retailers and consumers will know who to blame.”