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Biotechnology Industry regrets Greek ban on genetically modified crops
Brussels, Belgium
21st April 1999

EuropaBio, 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
N1953

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