Washington, DC
July 16, 2009
Canada and the European
Communities announced the end of a six-year World Trade
Organization (WTO) dispute regarding the approval and marketing
of biotechnology products.
Sharon Bomer Lauritsen, Executive Vice President, Food and
Agriculture for the Biotechnology
Industry Organization (BIO), issued the following statement
in response:
“While it is a good sign to see that Canadian canola growers
have gained some access for their exports, the European Union’s
approval system for agricultural biotechnology products
continues to be broken. It is plagued by political interference,
undue delay and member state prohibitions.
“There are now 70 products awaiting approvals – compared to 40
last year. There are no new cultivation approvals – in fact –
France and Germany have imposed cultivation bans within the past
two years. In addition, biotech corn is still not moving into
the EU.
“This situation impedes U.S. trade, despite the well-documented
safety of agricultural biotechnology which has produced real
results towards increasing crop yields, reducing production
inputs and enhancing environmental sustainability.
“The EU’s non-functioning biotech approval process has blocked
U.S. agricultural exports to the detriment of American farmers
and agribusiness, but also has prevented European farmers from
benefiting from modern technologies that are used in 25
countries by 13.3 million farmers around the world.
“Trade problems will continue to exist until Europe has a
science-based, timely and predictable approval process, which
could be achieved if the EU simply followed its own laws and
regulations.
“We urge the European Commission to normalize trade of products
produced through biotechnology in a timely and science-based
manner.”
BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies,
academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related
organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other
nations. BIO members are involved in the research and
development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial
and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the
BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of
the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor
and partnering meetings held around the world. |
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