Canada’s grain industry is pleased with a World Trade Organization ruling that paves the way for more timely processing of biotechnology applications by the European Union.
Dennis Stephens, consultant for the Canada Grains Council, said the ruling ensures future decisions on whether biotech crops can be grown and sold in the EU will be based on science, not politically influenced.
“The most significant thing in this ruling is that it has reconfirmed that countries cannot simply establish these non-tariff trade barriers. They must establish regulations based on scientific risk assessments,” he said.
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The Sept. 29 decision is the final ruling in a case brought before the WTO three years ago by Canada, Argentina and the United States.
The panel sided with the biotech exporters, saying the EU had implemented a de facto moratorium on the approval of biotech products between June 1999 and August 2003. It calls upon the EU to start processing applications in a timely manner.
Stephens said it is an influential ruling that will be a stepping stone for expanded sales of biotech products.
“I believe we are moving toward increased acceptance of Canadian canola going to Europe.”
Greenpeace International disagrees. It says the ruling “scandalously undermines” international environmental law and that will have repercussions.
“It will only fuel the public’s rejection of genetically engineered foods the world over. GE giants from the United States will not sell a single grain more as a result of the WTO self-righteously ignoring global environmental law in this decision,” said Greenpeace trade policy adviser Daniel Mittler.
The environmental crusader said the WTO is not qualified to render decisions on such complex scientific and environmental issues.
“Yet when there is a conflict between trade and environmental considerations, it is the WTO that gets to decide which rules rule,” said Mittler.
Stephens said there was extensive scientific consultation behind the 2,450-page report and Greenpeace is doing a disservice to the public to suggest otherwise.
In addition to ensuring more efficient processing of applications, the decision makes clear the EU’s WTO obligations take precedence over its participation in the Cartegena Protocol on Biosafety, an international agreement governing the transborder movement of GM organisms, said Stephens.
Canada’s grain industry is concerned that protocol could disrupt the flow of international trade.
“We feel more comfortable now that this ruling has taken place,” said Stephens.
The EU has 60 days to appeal the ruling but it is getting pressure from exporters to accept the decision.
“I urge the EU to fully comply with its WTO obligations and consider all outstanding biotech product applications, and evaluate their scientific merits in accordance with the EU’s own laws, without undue delay,” said U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab.
The EU said the WTO decision will have no impact on its GMO policy because it has already lifted its ban. Since the case was launched it has ruled on 10 GMO applications and is reviewing more than 30 others.
But Schwab said approving a “handful” of applications since 2003 is not akin to lifting the ban.
