www.checkbiotech.org ; www.czu.cz ; www.raupp.info

A majority of EU nations demanded on Thursday that the bloc changes the way
it approves new biotech crops, arguing that previous approvals since the EU
lifted its moratorium were done without proper research, March 2006 by
Constant Brand.

Only three countries - Britain, the Netherlands and Ireland - said the
current system was rigorous enough to meet high public safety concerns over
the use of genetically altered crops for use.

EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas acknowledged that the way experts
review product applications at the European Food Safety Agency could be
changed, only three years after the current ones came into force, in wake of
the widespread disapproval.

"I am aware of the criticism," Dimas said after the debate by EU environment
ministers. "Certain changes may be beneficial."

Dimas said while eight products have been approved since 2003, no decisions
would be taken on the use of new biotech crops for cultivation until EU
nations agree to new so-called coexistence guidelines, to prevent
genetically altered crops from spreading to non-biotech crops nearby.

A clash over the approval procedures has been simmering since last June,
when Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, France and Greece invoked national safety
clauses to keep bans in place on a range of biotech crops already approved
by the 25-nation EU.

The call by many for even tougher testing and review of new biotech crops
could further strain divisions with the United States and others that argue
that the EU is violating world trade rules in restricting imports of biotech
crops.

A February World Trade Organization preliminary ruling on a U.S. complaint
filed against the EU's biotech moratorium was unclear whether the EU
violated world trade rules. Both Brussels and Washington claimed victory,
ensuring the issue would remain a key trade irritant.

At Thursday's debate, German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel said the
current system put EU governments in an "unacceptable position," arguing
that products can still be approved under EU rules despite stalemate or
opposition from a majority of EU nations.

Under the biotech approval system, the European Commission has last-say to
decide on clearing new biotech crops if member states reach a stalemate.

The product must also be approved by the European Food Safety Agency, which
is supposed to ensure it is safe to use. "There is a big majority against
genetically modified organisms in public opinion, that is clear," said
Stravros Kayloyannis, Greek deputy environment minister.

Many EU ministers complained, however, that EFSA's scientific reviews were
not open enough to scrutiny nor were they independent.

Several EU nations argued that evaluations by the EU agency were too quick,
ignore national concerns and were only based on information supplied by the
company applying for an EU license to sell their product in Europe.

[www.washingtonpost.com]

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