http://www.agriculture.com/worldwide/AgricultureFarming/12_12_2001.reulb-story-bcfoodgermanycrops.html

Germany's Kuenast urges consumer choice on GM food

     HAMBURG, Dec 12 (Reuters) - German consumers should have a choice
about whether they eat genetically-modified food, German farm minister 
Renate Kuenast said on Wednesday, opening talks about the possible
commercial use of GM crops in the country.

     ``Many consumers have reservations about the use of this
technology,'' Kuenast said.

     Consumer choice means that GM food should be clearly labelled, she
said.

     ``At the same time, the rapid development and spread of this
technology means there is a need to make political decisions about it.''

     GM crops can be grown in Germany for research but commercial
production is banned.

     Among those invited to the government-sponsored talks in Berlin
were representatives of the GM seed industry and, for the first time, 
representatives of churches, trade unions, farm associations, scientists 
and groups interested in environment and consumer protection.

     A previous round of talks with the seed industry had started in
December 2000 but was halted by the government in January due to swelling 
public concern about food safety following the discovery of mad cow disease, 
or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Germany.

     ``The government neither can nor wants to avoid making these decisions,'' 
Kuenast said.

     Dieter Wissler, chairman of German biotechnology industry association 
DIB, said in a statement he hoped the discussions would focus on scientific facts.

     ``Goal should be cultivation of GM crops using a transparent
monitoring process, a state-supported research program and an open communications 
process,'' he said, adding there would be ``no progress'' in the talks if 
they were a forum for discussing GM food generally.

     ``After tens of thousands of (worldwide) open air trials over more
than 15 years, after six years of extensive commercial cultivation and with 
positive experience in other parts of the world along with extensive public 
debates, the opportunities and risks cannot just be spoken about in a theoretical
way,'' he said. ``There are no new arguments.''

     The association for German food law BLL also called for GM food to
be given a chance to establish itself in the market within a legally-secure 
framework.

     GM QUESTION COMPLICATED BY AUTHORISING BODIES

     The GM question in Germany is complicated because, technically, two
independent federal agencies -- not the government -- are responsible for 
authorizing commercial GM crop use.

     The Robert Koch scientific institute rules on safety and health
questions, while the federal seeds agency BSA rules on whether seeds are a 
new type not already on the market.

     In June, the seeds agency scheduled a meeting to approve commercial
use of GM feed maize type Artius T25 from Germany seeds company KWS Saat 
(KWSG.D).

     But Agriculture and Consumer Protection Minister Kuenast issued an
unusual preemptory consumer protection order directing the agency not to 
make a decision until further research into GM food safety had been carried out.