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Biotech / Medical : Monsanto Co. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dan Spillane who wrote (2220)	6/25/1999 1:45:00 PM
From: Professor Dotcomm	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2539

When is the EU going to forbid GM modified cheese?

To: Dan Spillane who wrote (2220)	6/25/1999 5:46:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2539

US to probe Euro attitudes on GM foods Updated 2:42 PM ET June 25, 1999 By Doug Palmer WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said Friday that European rules governing genetically modified crops must be based on sound science and not consumer fears. "I am disturbed to see an escalation of the fears of genetic engineering that do not appear to be based on science," Glickman told reporters at the opening of a farmers' market outside the Agriculture Department headquarters. Glickman and Peter Scher, U.S. special ambassador for agricultural trade, are heading to Paris for a series of biotechnology meetings on Monday at the suggestion of the U.S. Ambassador to France Felix Rohatyn. European concerns about possible health and environmental risks from genetically modified crops resulted in a decision by European Union environmental ministers on Friday to effectively delay approval of any genetically modified organisms (GMOs) until 2002, when a new law on licensing the products is up and running. The action came one day after U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky said the United States was considering launching World Trade Organization action against the EU for approval delays that are costing U.S. corn farmers some $200 million in annual lost sales. Glickman acknowledged that European resistance to biotechnology is more deeply-rooted than the United States recognized three years ago, when U.S. farmers began planting genetically modified crops in significant numbers. "We've got to try to tone down the rhetoric," Glickman said. "I have tried to present a slightly subtler position... on biotechnology in recent months. I don't think it's good enough to say 'it's the right thing to do and you ought to take it no matter what'." But at the same time, European fears can't be allowed to dictate the terms of trade for products that U.S. regulatory scientists have determined to be safe, he said. "There are factors at play that we have to deal with. But we can't let them dominate final decision making," Glickman said. "Otherwise, this thing could get into a situation where world trade is governed by people's fear and by their likes and dislikes, and not by sound science." While in Paris, Glickman and Scher will meet French Agriculture Minister Jean Galavny and Claude Chereau, trade advisor to Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. Glickman said he hoped to come away with a better understanding "of both the science and the politics of genetic engineering and biotechnology and related issues in Europe." Another objective is to follow up on recent discussions at the Group of Eight industrialized nations' summit, he said. At that meeting, G8 leaders asked two committees of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to study biotechnology in food production. "We need to get beyond the kind of hostilities that have resulted (over GMOs) and try to sit down and figure out if there are some ways to work toward resolution of some of these approval delays," Glickman told reporters. A U.S. education effort might help on that front, since many EU consumers see only risks associated with biotech crops and no potential benefit, Glickman said. While early genetically modified crops have focused on boosting yields and reducing farm input costs, other varieties now being developed promise to improve the nutritional content of food and help fight disease. news.excite.com