“Coalition of the Willing” Files Complaint Against EU GM Food Restrictions

May 14 , 2003

For Immediate Release

The United States along with Argentina, Canada and Egypt recently filed a complaint in the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the European Union on restrictions imposed on the sale of GM foods.

Commercialization of genetically modified (GM) crops began as recently as the early 1990s. This is a technology that has been rushed to market and the benefits, if any, are far from clear. What we do know, however, is that genetically engineered crops pose serious risks to human health, ecosystems, and food security around the world. People in Europe have decided that they do not want to face these risks and have exercised their right to choose what they eat.

Scientific studies on genetically engineered foods have demonstrated the potential for serious problems to human health through toxicity, allergenicity and the use of antibiotic markers. Also, the potential threat to the environment through gene transfers, contamination, new forms of resistance and increased use of chemicals cannot be ignored.

A handful of companies (Dow, DuPont, Syngenta, Aventis and Monsanto) own 3 out of 4 GM crop patents in the United States. The situation is much worse internationally with only one company, Monsanto, owning 90% of the GM seeds and associated licenses. Through their monopoly and patents, and technologies that promote increased monoculture, agribusiness is leading us into a perilous future where they will control a basic human resource – food.

It is disingenuous to say that GM foods are needed because there is a food shortage in the developing world. Our understanding of famines and their causes tells us the contrary. Ethiopia, for example, was a net exporter of food during its famine when the war prevented produce from reaching those who needed it. India, oft quoted for its hunger and poverty, now has a surplus of 50 million tons of food grains while 350 million people go hungry to bed each night. We don’t need to look beyond our own borders to see hunger in the midst of plenty and recognize that food security is less about food availability, than a lack of access to food.

The agenda of the Bush Administration is to confront the new GM food labeling requirements that are taking hold in the EU. Labeling of GM foods allows consumers to make an informed choice about the food they eat, which one would imagine is a basic right. US agribusiness interests, who do not want GM foods to be labeled, feel seriously threatened by this development.

There are also other anti-GM rumblings around the world. China has stopped licensing new GM crops and Zambia recently rejected GM food aid even while faced with a famine. Zimbabwe rejected whole grain, but accepted milled flour. This resistance may thwart agribusiness' plans to expand its markets through sales of GM foods in the developing world. The Administration’s confrontation of the EU can also be seen as an attempt to intimidate developing countries into opening themselves to unwanted GM crops.

The hypocrisy of it all is that the US, Europe, Japan and other rich countries provide about $300 billion (roughly equal to the GDP of Sub-Saharan Africa) in subsidies to their affluent farmers and agribusiness. While these countries protect their markets, which contributes to keeping the poor in their place elsewhere, they are engaged in their own food fight. If we are really serious about food security and the needs of the developing world, we ought to remove agricultural subsidies now and urge Europe and other countries to rise to the challenge.

Science indicates the need to take the risks posed by GM foods seriously. We should applaud the EU for considering the views of the people in their decision-making. The US Administration needs to weigh in the opinion of the public on GM foods and labeling as opposed to simply those of vested interests in agribusiness.

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For more information, contact: Sujatha Byravan, Executive Director, Council for Responsible Genetics (CRG) at (617) 868-0870 or by e-mail at sujatha@gene-watch.org. To find out more about genetically modified foods, visit CRG on the web at www.gene-watch.org.