Brussels, Belgium
21st April 1999EuropaBio, the European Association for Bioindustries,
regrets the announcement by the Greek Environment Ministry that they have banned field
trials of new varieties of field crop plants with novel traits developed using genetic
modification.
Thousand of field trials have been safely conducted in many countries over the past twelve
years as part of the rigorous safety assessment process that these new varieties undergo
before they are approved for commercial growing. Such trials are conducted under strictly
controlled conditions, and banning them is counter-productive since it stops the very
activity that addresses the concerns being raised about their safety.
The Association also believes that the reported call to other EU member states for an
alliance to block any further approvals of GM (genetically modified) and to institute a
moratorium on all commercial releases of such products products is the wrong kind of
signal to the public, to the farming community and to the industry. EuropaBio fully agrees
with the EU-Council of Environment Ministers comment (on December 21st, 1999) that any
such moratorium is to be rejected, as there is no legal basis for it.
EuropaBio reaffirms that human and animal health, as well as environmental safety, are top
priorities for its member companies. EuropaBio has always favoured a regulatory system
that imposes a rigorous, science-based assessment for GMOs, provided it is coherent,
predictable and efficient.
Only then can the public be confident that its wellbeing is being protected and can
industry be certain of a stable regulatory and investment climate, whilst European farmers
are allowed access to the technology to produce high quality food in an environmentally
sustained manner.
All GM approved products permitted or commercialised in the European Union have been
reviewed by extremely stringent EU and national regulatory systems. All products have been
declared safe from the point of view of human consumption and the environment.
EuropaBio represents 47 corporate members operating world wide and 12 national
associations (totalling around 600 SMEs), involved in R&D, testing, manufacturing and
distribution of biotechnology products throughout Europe. EuropaBio, the voice of European
Bioindustries, aims to be a promoting force for biotechnology and to present its proposals
to industry, politicians, regulators, NG0s and the public at large.
EuropaBio position statement
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