Former European Union commissioner Franz Fischler said that halting imports
of GM soybean would be detrimental for Europe's egg producers. He mentioned
this warning during the International Egg Commission conference held in
Vienna, Austria. Fischler was the EU agriculture commissioner from 1995 to
1999.

"Europe is very weak in soya production or other protein plants, so most of
the protein is imported," he discussed. Nearly two thirds of the protein
plants used in Europe were soybean and more than 90 percent of that was
imported, he added.

"It is clear that we in Europe would have to stop production if we couldn't
import any more genetically modified soya products. This is absolutely
clear. Anything else is an illusion," he said to the delegates of the
conference. "I know that some, especially unfortunately in my own country
(Austria), say we need a total ban on genetically modified products, but the
consequence would be that we would import the eggs and the poultry instead
of the feeding stuffs. That, for some of you, would be perfect, but for
European producers it would be a catastrophe."

[www.europabio.org]