The Honourable David Emerson, Minister of International Trade, and the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, today welcomed the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) adoption of a ruling against the European Union (EU) treatment of imports of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

“Our government has long argued that there was no scientific basis for the EU to delay the approval of GMO imports from Canada, which created an unjustified barrier to trade,” said Minister Emerson. “This ruling will enable Canadian producers to access European markets and effectively market their products.”

“This ruling is a big win for the Canadian agriculture industry, and in particular the biotechnology sector,” added Minister Strahl. “Canadian developers, producers, processors and exporters are at the forefront of the industry, and can now export their innovative technologies and products to European markets.”

Significantly, the WTO panel accepted Canada’s argument that the EU had imposed an unjustified moratorium on the approval of biotechnology products during the period from June 1999 to August 2003, which amounted to an effective ban on the import of these products. The panel also found that the national bans imposed on GMOs by five EU members were not justified.

This victory is timely, as the demand for oilseeds in Europe is growing as a result of European Union policy to promote the use of bio-diesel. This WTO decision has the potential to significantly benefit Canadian producers, who grow a number of grain and oilseed varieties that were not approved under the moratorium.

The EU has indicated that it will not appeal this decision.