Coexistence Monthly Update – June 2005
Global
New expansion of GM crops
A new study showed that last year up to 81 million hectares of genetically modified (GM) crops were under cultivation worldwide, an increase of 20% compared to 2003. Over eight million farmers in 17 countries now grow GM crops. Some 90% of the farmers using GM crops are in developing countries.
First on-line worldwide register of inadvertent presence of GM Organisms
GeneWatch UK and Greenpeace International launched the first on-line register of the known cases of inadvertent presence of GMO’s in food, animal feed, seeds and wild plants that have taken place worldwide. Currently 62 incidents of illegal or unlabelled GMO presence have been documented in 27 countries on five continents.
Some examples found in the register are:
-The largest number incidents of inadvertent presence of GM have ocurred in the USA (11).
-Contamination from 'Starlink' maize was found in seven countries: USA; Canada; Egypt; Bolivia; Nicaragua; Japan; and South Korea.
-Illegal releases of GM crops into the environment or food chain have taken place in India (cotton), Brazil (cotton and soya), China (rice), Croatia (maize), Europe, Germany (papaya) and Thailand (cotton and papaya).
-New Zealand: inadvertent presence of GM seeds in consignments of maize seeds for sowing.
Consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for organic food: Factors that affect it and variation per organic product type
Consumers were approached while shopping in retail chains in Athens in July 2003 to determine their awareness of the term “organic”. The questionnaire included in its first part a number of criteria that influence consumers when buying food. In the second part respondents were asked to indicate if any food products they buy were organic and to state how much more they were willing to pay. WTP depended on several factors such as food quality and security, trust in the certification, and, for some products, brand name. Prices, consumer’s characteristics and socio-demographic profiles were found not to constitute determinants of WTP for organics.
World GM updates by geographical area
Europe
The experimental cultivation of GM corn is being extended in Germany
One thousand hectares of experimental GM corn have been registered this year throughout Germany. Additionally to experiments with GM corn resistant to European corn borer, there will be experiments with GM potatoes and GM rapeseed. The scientists examined, among other things, if genetic exchange occurred between engineered corn plants and native, non-transgenic corn plants on a neighbouring field. Hybridization was detectable only in plants that were in the immediate proximity of experimental fields. The cross breeding of transgenic organisms with conventional crops is allowed up to a threshold of 0.9% before labelling is required. The limit was crossed within a width of ten meters. For this reason, a buffer zone longer than ten meters is required. The test results show that co-existence is possible between conventional agriculture and GM farming.
Europeans confused on perception about GM crops
Nearly a quarter of Europeans are still unsure what they think about GM crops. 23% of Europeans neither agree nor disagree with the statement that GM foods are dangerous to human health, according to the results of a Eurobarometer survey. However, more than half (54%) thought that GM foods were dangerous, with Cypriots and Greeks being the most opposed, while the Netherlands and the UK were much less worried about the potential problems of GM foods.
Switzerland parliament opposes GM crop moratorium
Switzerland’s parliament opposed a public initiative calling for a five-year moratorium on GM crops in Switzerland. The house voted by 91 votes to 88 against the initiative. Opponents, mainly from the centre-right parties, described the moratorium as unnecessary and detrimental to Switzerland’s interests. The initiative will now go to popular vote.
Member states refuse to lift illegal bans on GM products
The EU Environment Council failed to lift the bans by five Member States on EU-approved GM products, despite conclusions by the EU Food Safety Authority that these products are safe. The Member States voted by qualified majority against the Commission decision to lift the bans in Austria, France, Greece Germany and Luxembourg. Although this vote does not impact on any current commercial planting, it is the first time that the Council has voted to reject a European Commission proposal to remove safeguard measures on GM products and demonstrates that EU Member States have failed again to respect their own laws. These bans were imposed using the safeguard clause of Directive 90/220 that permits such bans if there are real safety concerns, but that also requires new scientific information to be provided to support such bans.
EU authorises GM rapeseed
The European Union was cited as saying in its Official Journal that it had authorised imports of a GM rapeseed, the third GM crop to win approval since the EU ended its unofficial biotechnology ban last year. The rapeseed, known as GT73 and manufactured by U.S. biotech giant Monsanto, is modified to resist the herbicide glyphosate.
Saxony-Anhalt files legal action against Federal Government on GM law
Saxony-Anhalt, one of Germany’s federal states, has challenged the constitutionality of federal legislation passed last year which allows “farmers to claim compensation if their non-GM crops are cross-pollinated by GM crops grown nearby”. They said the legislation is too vague and implicates a high risk of liability, which essentially stops companies from using approved GM crops. Supporters of the legislation claim such legislation is necessary to protect conventional farmers from losses incurred through potential GM cross pollination of their crops.
North America
U.S. legislators focus on ‘next generation’ products
State legislation introduced in 2003-2004 by United States policy makers focused on ‘next generation’ products of agricultural biotechnology like pharmaceutical-producing food crops and animals, or new food crops such as wheat and even on GM fish. This was a major finding of the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology, a private entity devoted to the dissemination of information on agricultural biotechnology. Legislation varied by state and it was reflective of regional concerns and economic interests. Biotechnology legislation in the Northern Plains States, where debates were held regarding GM wheat and global wheat markets, tried to stop the introduction of the product.
Asia
Japan to review Canadian canola imports: GM canola plants growing in Japan alleged to be from Canada
GM canola, believed to have been imported from Canada, has been found growing in the wild in Japan, prompting concerns among farmers and environmentalists in a nation generally wary of such crops. The Japanese government said the import of canola seed for feed, food and processing from Canada is considered safe, but the Agriculture Ministry indicated Japan intends to reassess the situation. Canadian exporters are responsible for 80% of the canola Japan imports each year. Of the 1.6 million tonnes of seed Canada ships annually to Japan, 80% is GM.
GM maize alert in Japan
Japanese officials have uncovered a second case of an unapproved strain of insect resistant GM maize in a US cargo. The Agriculture Ministry will order the importer of the cargo to destroy it or return it to the US. Japan has a zero-tolerance policy on imports of unapproved GM crops.
Certificates issued for safe GM products in China
China has issued 176 safety certificates for GM crops according to a national conference on GM safety. These involved paddy rice, corn, wheat, soybean and cotton. China claims it has made remarkable achievements in GM safety work, based on international experiences, since the implementation of regulations on rural GM safety three years ago.
India agrees on biotechnology priorities for implementation
The Indian Government has examined the report of the Task Force on Application of Biotechnology in Agriculture and has agreed on several priorities for implementation. The priorities include among others:
Finalisation of the National Biotechnology Policy by the Department of Biotechnology;
Rationalisation of the approval process under the Environment (Protection)Act 1986;
Release of Bt cotton varieties for the North Zone;
Capacity building for post-release monitoring and training;
Public awareness campaign to be launched by the Department of Agriculture in association with State Agricultural Universities and other scientific organisations/institutes;
Establishment of testing facilities for GM seeds; and
Identification of crops and traits for biotechnology research
Biotechnology seen as engine to sustain China’s economic growth
The National Development Reform Commission has recommended increased government support for the biotechnology industry, especially where the focus of research is on health or agriculture. China already has over 200 major biotechnology laboratories funded by the government (state and provincial), with more than 40,000 technological research staff. The country is also seen to have access to one of the most diverse biological resources in the world. The Chinese Academy of Sciences estimates that China is 5–10 years behind the US in terms of overall research and development capacity, and that government investment in research and development accounts for approximately 1.3% of GDP.
Biotechnology policy unveiled in Malaysia
The Malaysian government recently revealed a National Biotechnology Policy that will underpin the development of the biotechnology industry. Initiatives under the policy will focus on three major sectors – agriculture, healthcare and industrial, with implementation over three phases – capacity building (2005–2010), creating business out of science (2011–2015) and turning Malaysia into a global biotechnology player (2016–2020). The policy has received mixed feedback, with some welcoming the government’s commitment to establishing a framework for the sector, while others questioned Malaysia’s ability to execute the policy. However, there is general consensus that for any policy to succeed several issues must be addressed, notably shortages in commercialised technologies, skilled biotechnology workers, venture capital, biotechnology infrastructure, foreign direct investment incentives and regulatory practices.
Africa
Angolan government position on GM grain clarified
The Angolan government has formally confirmed the ban on importing GM grain into the country. The decision was made last April to put the country in line with other countries in the Southern African Development Community. Any food aid received must be milled before distribution. This is to ensure that seeds are not planted which could lead to GM strains growing unregulated. The two arguments put forward for the ban are:
The government does not have the capacity to regulate the growing of GM crops.
If Angola is unable to guarantee that its crops are GM free, it will be detrimental in the future to export to some markets in Europe, where there is widespread skepticism amongst the public as to the safety of GM crops.
Contact for Enquiries
Dr Sharon Adamson
Manager,
Innovation Policy
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0618
Fax: +64 4 4 894 0741
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