The European Commission has started work on legislation which would allow individual member-nations to ban the importation of genetically modified organisms even if they are approved by the European Union.
Currently Europe imports nearly 60 genetically modified products and reports are at least seventeen more will be approved for import by the end of May. Pressure has been building on the E.U. to open-up to biotech as part of the transatlantic trade talks.
The Commission says it wants countries to be able to restrict or prohibit a GM product. The proposal would require a nation to justify their opt-out decision and that the reasons are in line with international obligations. The Commission has stated there can be no opt-out for health or environmental issues as that would cast doubt on the European Food Safety Authority’s scientific assessment of GMOs.
The proposal is patterned after the recently adopted rule which allows individual countries to ban the cultivation of GM crops even though the E.U. has approved it.
U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman expressed opposition to the proposal saying it disregards science and could create 28 different sets of rules.
The legislation must be approved by the European Parliament and E.U. member nations.
Source: www.brownfieldagnews.com