Save our Seeds

Friends of the Earth Europe has today called for alternative ways to deal with environmental trade disputes. The call comes as the World Trade Organisation (WTO) publishes its final ruling on the transatlantic trade dispute on genetically modified foods. Friends of the Earth Europe believes that there will be "no clear winners but many losers" in today's ruling, the longest in WTO history.

The increased output of genetically modified corn and soybeans in the U.S. is forcing small and midsize Japanese foodmakers to look for new suppliers to meet demand from local consumers.

China should limit soybean trading by companies such as ADM. Cargill, Bunge and Louis Dreyfus, to reduce their dominance, and restrict trade in genetically modified soybeans, Li Xirong, a deputy director at the state council’s research office, said at a conference in the northern port city Dalian.

A final ruling of the Swiss supreme court not only reserves the name "Emmentaler" to swiss production only but also determines that it must be GMO free.

The french minister of agriculture, Dominique Bussereau, announced that a contentious law project on GMOs, which would implement European directives and also regulate co-existence, will not be submitted to the Parliament for a second reading. Instead the EU directive would be implemented by means of government decrees to avoid EU penalties. A new law proposal would be submitted later, "as the president decides". It is unlikely that this will happen before the presidential elections next year.

Europe's problems with shipments of unauthorized genetically modified rice have taken a turn for the worse as, once more, U.S. shipments declared as GE-free were tested positive for an illegal biotech strain. Environmental Organisations like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth ask the EU and all their member states to stop all rice imports from the US.

Lecithin suppliers report strong demand and adequate supply for non-GMO, identity preserved lecithin with raw material coming mainly from Brazil. The GMO issue continues to impact the supply of non-GMO lecithin. Some food manufacturers are using alternatives to lecithin due to GMO concerns and to avoid allergen labeling.

European Union governments clashed three times on Monday on genetically modified foods and crops. A majority of EU member states voted against a European Commission proposal to force Hungary to lift a ban on the cultivation of a genetically engineered maize. Also, a decision on the approval of a genetically engineered oilseed rape ended in a deadlock during a meeting of EU Farm Ministers.

The GMO Panel of the European Food Safety authority, EFSA, has evaluated the available scientific data on LLRICE601 and issued a statement that there is insufficient data to provide a full risk assessment.

EU governments face two key decisions next week on genetically

modified (GMO) foods, against a backdrop of rising concern that

unauthorised biotech varieties have found their way into Europe, officials

said on Thursday.