A food industry coalition of almost unprecedented scope is urging the
federal government to hold off on ratifying a United Nations protocol
on biological diversity until its impact on agriculture is better
understood.
The protocol, signed by Canada and scores of other countries last year
but not yet ratified by the federal government, would create new
international rules governing export of what are called “living
modified organisms” – genetically modified products like canola,
soybeans and corn that could take root if they made it into nature in
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importing countries.
Canadian food industry officials say they expect the protocol to become
international law next spring when 50 countries officially approve it.
They are urging Canada to hold off, fearing that it would add costs for
Canadian exporters, force them to live by rules competitors do not
have, and perhaps close some important markets for Canadian grains and
oilseeds exports. The United States, Australia, Argentina and Brazil
are not expected to ratify.
“The Canadian agriculture industry continues to express grave concerns
regarding key outstanding issues in the protocol text, which may result
in significant negative impacts on our sector of the economy,” said the
Oct. 28 letter to environment minister David Anderson and agriculture
minister Lyle Vanclief.
It is signed by a coalition of 33 groups ranging from the Western Grain
Elevators Association and food manufacturers to the Canadian Federation
of Agriculture, Grain Growers of Canada and many commodity groups.
“The Canadian government should not ratify the … protocol until it
can be assured that Canada’s competitive position as an exporter of
agri-food products will not be harmed.”
Dennis Stephens, a consultant to the Canada Grains Council on the
issue, said in an Oct. 28 interview the implications could be
“horrific” for the grains exporting industry.
Food industry leaders said they feared Ottawa is planning to ratify the
2001 protocol within weeks.
But late Oct. 28, agriculture minister Vanclief denied the timetable.
He said he sympathizes with the food industry complaints, even though
Anderson is the lead minister and signed the original deal.
“It is one of the few issues that you can say everyone in agriculture
is raising exactly the same concerns and wants the same questions
answered before any decision is made on ratification,” Vanclief said in
an interview. “I join with all of them in wanting to get more
clarification. We need answers.”
