Canadian reaction broke into familiar camps last week with the news that the Canadian government is joining a challenge to European Union restrictions on imports of genetically modified foods.
Some farm leaders welcomed the move as an attack on protectionism. For the past five years, the European Union has had an effective moratorium on approving imports of new GM varieties.
On May 14, Ottawa announced it is joining a challenge to the moratorium by the United States, using the World Trade Organization as a forum.
“The European ban is clearly a non-tariff barrier that has no basis in science,” said Grain Growers of Canada president Ken Bee. “A positive ruling by the WTO will set an important precedent that will help stop the spread of the EU ban to other countries.”
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Manitoba farmer Jim Wilson, chair of the Agricore United board of directors, called it a courageous move by Canada.
Environmental critics and anti-GM campaigners condemned the decision.
Greenpeace Canada activist Pat Venditti said that by joining with the U.S., Argentina and Egypt to challenge EU restrictions on imports of genetically modified foods, Canada is arrogantly trying to “force feed” Europeans food they do not want.
“This is just part of Canada’s support for and encouragement of the biotechnology industry and its view that GMOs (genetically modified organisms) are the future of agriculture,” Venditti said.
“The Canadian government, instead of attacking others for their prudent caution, should be listening more to Canadian consumers and their concerns about this technology.”
Venditti said the EU rules are in place because people want them, rather than because governments imposed them.
The Council of Canadians called the Canadian decision an embarrassment to the country.
“We hope the Europeans understand that though this government claims to be taking this course of action in the name of Canadians, this is actually being done in the name of the biotech industry, which has always been able to rely on this government to fight their battles,” said council anti-biotechnology campaigner Nadege Adam.
Venditti said Greenpeace Canada will be working with Greenpeace activists in Europe to encourage the EU to defend its precautionary principle approach against the trade challenge.
However, Canadian farm and food industry officials who support the challenge said Europe should allow in food proven to be safe and nutritious and let consumers decide if they want to buy it.
