GM-free Scotland

News | May '09 | Political tides turning against GM in Europe

An image of the EU flag

“Let all men know how empty and worthless is the power of kings.  For there is none worthy of the name but God, whom heaven, earth and sea obey” (King Knut)

The people of Europe have consistently expressed their concerns over GM food and crops since these first loomed on the market.  To this day, EU-wide surveys show 57% of respondents are apprehensive of GM, with only 21% in favour.  In individual countries, public concern can reach much higher levels.

While industry and international pressure on the European Commission (EC) has kept GM on the EU agenda and edging ever-closer to the dinner plate, the action 'on the ground' has gone the other way.  Regions within member states, such as Wales within the UK and Bavaria within Germany, are intent on moving towards a GMO-free status.  EC attempts to force member states to lift prohibitions on GM crops have been crushingly defeated (by a majority of 22 against 5 in the third, and latest, attempt to pull Austria into line).

Spring in Europe 2009 has seen a succession of actions designed to turn back the GM tide.

Following close on the heels of the French ban on MON810 insecticidal maize, the German Agriculture Minister has also prohibited the cultivation and sale of the seed.  The decision has cross-party support and the full support of the Environment Minister there, and was taken after a thorough review of new scientific evidence in addition to Monsanto's original dossier which had declared the product safe.  The timing of Germany's move may be coincidental, but with the plan to sew nearly 9,000 acres with MON810 just about to begin, it is unlikely that Monsanto can take legal proceedings in time to change anything in the current year.  Advisers to the Ministry have warned the decision potentially exposes Germany to a $9 million fine, but the Agriculture Minister seems very confident of the scientific support for her ban.

There are now six EU member states which have banned MON810: Germany, France, Austria, Hungary, Greece and Luxembourg, while Italy and Poland have de facto bans in place.  These countries represent 55% of the population of the EU.

Another GM body blow has been dealt by both France and Germany.  France has adopted a “Nourri sans OGM” label and Germany has adopted an “Ohne Gentechnik” label so that their citizens can choose meat and dairy from livestock fed only non-GM feed.  This initiative in Germany has been led by Europe's largest dairy producer, Campina, which has launched a major advertising campaign.  Campina's ambition is to educate consumers about the food chain leading up to the grocery store.  The emphasis is on avoiding soy and developing feed crops traditionally cultivated in Germany, such as grass, oilseed rape and lupins.  As previously reported, non-GM fed chickens are becoming a reality in this country (see FIXING THE FOOD CHAIN – News, April 2009).

Complementing the new GM maize ban and labelling initiatives, Germany was also the scene of an action against a fundamental legal aberration which is empowering the GM industry to extend its control to every crop in the ground and to every form of livestock from cows and their milk to the yoghurt derived from it.  On April 15th, over a thousand farmers joined by environmental and development organisations, plus a herd of traditional breeding pigs, demonstrated against patents on plants and animals (See NO PATENTS ON PIGS – News, January 2009).  The action, led by  No Patents on Life, handed in a joint opposition signed by over 5,000 people plus some 50 organisations, to the European Patents Office (EPO) in Munich.  It related to the patenting of a modification to traditional breeding procedures already in use.  The patent had been filed by Monsanto.   

OUR COMMENT

Three cheers for France and Germany, and all the other EU countries and organisations which are digging in their heels over the whole breadth of GM concerns.  Scotland has taken an interesting stance in all of this too: check out the SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE ON CONVENTIONAL PLANT BREEDING  (in the News, May 2009) which took place on 1st April (but not a joke).

King Knut demonstrated to his people that he wasn't God by proving that he couldn't stop the tide from flowing.  Monsanto et al. haven't learned this particular lesson, but they'll try anyway and could cause a lot of innocent by-standers to drown in their GM sea.

If you let them.

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