France calls for tougher EU rules on GM crops

LUXEMBOURG: June 23, 2000

LUXEMBOURG -  France said yesterday  the  European  Union  should
continue  to  block the authorisation of new genetically modified
(GM)  crops even after new,  stricter  EU  rules  are  in  place,
because the measures will not go far enough.  

French  Environment  Minister  Dominique  Voynet,  who  last year
helped  instigate  a  de  facto   EU   moratorium   on   new   GM
authorisations,  said  new legislation,  due to be adopted in the
coming  months,   would  fail  to  meet  public  concerns   about
transgenic foods.  

She said it would not make biotechnology companies legally liable
for  any  future  environment  or  human  health  problems  their
products caused.  "The new directive...is not strong  enough  for
us  to  lift  the  moratorium,"  Voynet  told  journalists on the
fringes of an EU ministerial meeting  in  Luxembourg.   "At  this
moment I don't see any reason to lift it,"  she said.  The EU has
not authorised any new GM crops since  April  1998  amid  growing
fears  among  the  public  and  politicians  that they might pose
health or environmental risks.  In June 1999  a  majority  of  EU
environment   ministers   informally   agreed  to  block  further
approvals until EU legislation was revised.  

Voynet said she now wanted the  de  facto  moratorium  to  remain
until   the   EU  had  clear  rules  on  producer  liability  for
environmental damage.  Voynet said when  France  takes  over  the
rotating  presidency  of the EU in July,  she would invite her EU
colleagues to discuss the GM issue  at  an  informal  ministerial
meeting.  

When  asked if she thought the ministers would maintain the block
on new GMOs she said:  "I don't want to prejudice the  discussion
of July 14, but that will be my position." 

Voynet  said  five  or  six other EU countries supported her hard
line, and these were Austria, Denmark, Italy, Greece,  Luxembourg
and possibly Belgium.  

Story by Robin Pomeroy 

REUTERS NEWS SERVICE