| Evidence is growing that the European Commission is determined to take a
tougher stance against member states' hostility to GMOs in agriculture.
The Commission is frustrated that it has been exposed to potential action
by the United States in the WTO because a number of countries are not
prepared to lift moratoriums on GM crops. This prevents the European Union
(EU) implementing approvals, because open trade between member states
under Single Market regulations would not be possible.
However, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, whose standing is high with
many European leaders, has now been urged to encourage a more positive
stance towards GMOs. On a visit to Britain the commissioner responsible
for the internal market, which covers trade between member states, said it
was a "sad spectacle" that just 0.03% of the acreage of GM crops
in the world was produced in the EU - despite Europe regarding itself as a
major producer of agricultural commodities.
"We want to lead in new technology - and this is a new technology
of prime importance," said commissioner Frits Bolkestein. He added
that the Commission's particular concern was that the EU was failing to
use even the products already approved for cultivation in Europe.
Blair has defended GM crops in the past, ridiculing sections of the
British media which branded them Frankenstein foods. However, many members
of his own government do not share his views, and in the aftermath of foot
and mouth disease and BSE he is aware that an overtly pro GM stance would
be out of step with public opinion.
Ironically the Commission's appeal to Blair for help coincided with a
decision by a British court to clear of charges of criminal damage two
environmental campaigners who had destroyed a GM trial site. The court
ruled that they had a "lawful excuse" because they had been
unsuccessful in highlighting their fears by using other means. Special to
FarmProgress.com by Richard Wright, United Kingdom
Japan Making Mad Cow Checks
Following Japan's second case of mad cow disease (formally known as
bovine spongiform encephalopathy), its Agricultural Ministry has decided
to slaughter all of the 5,000-some cows that have been fed meat and bone
meal (MBM) - which is believed to cause mad cow disease. According to the
farm ministry's survey from September 12 and 30, about 5,129 cows had been
fed MBM. Japan banned the use of MBM as feed last month.
Of the 5,129 cows, some 300 are beef cattle while the remaining are
dairy cattle ranging from two to eight years, according to a ministry
official.
Japan's mad cow scare has slashed beef sales in the country by more
than 50%. Many meat-eaters have turned to alternatives such as pork,
chicken and fish.
The farm ministry's decision will mark the first time for Japan to
unconditionally slaughter cows meant for consumption.
UN Program Launches Airbridge for Afghan Food Aid
Before winter snows make parts of Afghanistan inaccessible, the United
Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has launched an airbridge into the
country to bring sufficient quantities of food aid in remote locations
across northeastern Afghanistan. This is the first time a humanitarian
airlift has been launched from Tajikistan and the first time in this
current crisis that WFP has used aircraft to send food aid to Afghanistan.
It is envisioned that the aircraft, which carries approximately 17 tons
of wheat flour, will make four flights per day for the next few weeks,
weather permitting, until a total of 2,000 tons has been dispatched to
Faizabad. The food will then be put on trucks and taken to remote areas
across northeastern Afghanistan.
WFP is also using a fleet of heavy-duty trucks contracted from the
Russian government in an operation supported by the UK government. Some of
these trucks are fitted with snow clearing equipment to keep the roads
open as long as possible.
WFP says it needs to move 9,000 tons of wheat flour into Faizabad from
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to ensure enough food reaches people before
winter isolates communities. This represents a four-month ration for the
population which will be cut off by snow. |