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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received since May 2003 in response to the challenge by the US in the World Trade Organisation to the EU's precautionary approach to GM foods and farming; what steps the Government is taking in response to the challenge; and if she will make a statement. [220262] Mr. Morley: In May 2003, the USA, Argentina and Canada filed a complaint with the World Trade Organisation against the procedures regulating the import and marketing of GMOs in the European Union. The focus of the complaints is that the EU has allegedly not been operating its own approvals system for GM products since 1998. It is alleged that this is more trade restrictive than is required to achieve the desired level of public health protection, that it is not based on proper scientific criteria, and that it unfairly discriminates between GMO and non-GMO products. The case is made against the European Commission, not individual member states, but it specifically cites Austria, France, Luxembourg, Germany, Italy and Greece. The Department has received correspondence from stakeholders and the public in relation to this WTO case, in the main supporting the EU regulatory position. The UK Government has also raised this issue in meetings with the US administration. The UK Government has expressed its disappointment that this action has been taken by the USA and we are working with our EU partners to defend the case and find a solution. As with any WTO dispute we will be bound by the ruling, which will be reached after due consideration of the evidence. The UK agrees with the European Commission that existing EU legislation on GMOs is compatible with trade rules and that significant progress has recently been made in dealing with applications under the legislation for placing GM products on the market.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

431 c1812-3W;431 c1808W; 220262

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Complaints Crops Agriculture Genetically modified organisms EU action Imports European Commission World Trade Organization

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk