The Wire

Many people have concerns about Genetically Modified Organisms, from the effects they’ll have on the food chain to ethical concerns about the patents biotech companies have taken out on such things as seeds and rice. There are also concerns that the companies responsible for producing scientific information about GMOs are the same companies who have a vested interest in peddling these products to the rest of the world. With the effects of such new technology largely unknown, a number of European countries have declared themselves GM-free, some African countries have refused GM food-aid offered by the US, and in Australia a number of states have put in place moratoria on the commercial release of GMOs. Due to public pressure across Europe, the European Union did this back in 1998 … greatly angering the US – one of the World’s largest producers of GMO’s. And in April of this year the new European regulations covering the authorisation, traceability and labelling of all genetically modified food, feed and products produced from GMOs, came into force in the EU. Another step which angered producers of GMO’s. Now the US, Canada and Argentina have taken this dispute with the European Union to the World Trade Organisation. Cinnamon Nippard spoke to Sue Mayer Director of Genewatch UK, and Alice Palmer, Program Director of the Trade Investment and Sustainable Development Program at FIELD – the Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development. The hearing will take place in early June, and a decision is expected to be reached in late August.

Gene Watch UK
FIELD – the Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development
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