www.czu.cz ; www.raupp.info

EU health commissioner Markos Kyprianou protested Monday at disarray among
European countries on genetically modified foods, which in theory are now
allowed in the bloc but in practice face major hurdles, January 2005.

"GMOs are allowed in Europe. Nevertheless... differences among member
states lead to various complications, and it would be good at some point if
Council revises the issue," he said, referring to the body representing EU
governments.

"It is up to the member states," he said. "The problem is that there are
different approaches among member states on coexistence, for example, or on
thresholds.

"Member states don't even agree between themselves when it comes to the
approval of products," he added at a meeting of EU agriculture ministers.

But Kyprianou said that despite the differences among the EU governments,
the European Commission had the power to act on its own authority when it
comes to biotech foods.

Indeed in May last year, the commission acted on its own to end a five-year
European embargo on biotech food after EU states repeatedly failed to find a
compromise on the question.

Starting with a genetically modified corn called BT-11, the commission has
resumed approvals of applications to import GM foods into EU countries.

"We have legislation in place in Europe and I will take decisions based on
scientific evidence," Kyprianou said.

[www.eubusiness.com]

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