[P2P-F] Fwd: Europe steps closer to real powers to ban GM crops ( Greenpeace - Press Release )

Sat Apr 16 08:46:18 CEST 2011

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dante-Gabryell Monson <dante.monson at gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Apr 14, 2011 at 2:37 AM
Subject: Europe steps closer to real powers to ban GM crops ( Greenpeace -
Press Release )
To: econowmix at googlegroups.com, hc_ecology at yahoogroups.com,
sustainable_solidarity at yahoogroups.com

http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/News/2011/Europe-steps-closer-to-real-powers-to-ban-GM-crops/

Europe steps closer to real powers to ban GM crops
Press release - April 12, 2011
Brussels, 12 April 2011 - A weak proposal to give European countries the
right to ban the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops was
strengthened today by the leading European Parliament committee.

**The European Commission is willing to give countries the right to ban GM
crops only if these bans are based on a limited number of reasons. These
include cultural and moral arguments, which EU lawyers argue are too weak to
be legally robust. Today, the environment committee voted to include grounds
related to potential environmental impacts of GM crops. Greenpeace argues
that these grounds are crucial if national bans are to be legally robust.

*Greenpeace EU agriculture policy adviser Stefanie Hundsdorfer said: **“**The
voice of reason prevailed today in parliament’s environment committee.
Environmental impacts are a major danger of GM crops and i**ncluding these
into law will help governments ban them from Europe's fields. Without these
grounds, national bans would be in danger of being overturned by biotech
companies in court.”*

The committee also voted:

•    As a priority, the Commission and EU countries must implement the
conclusions adopted by all environment ministers in 2008 on strengthening
the EU's authorisation procedure for GM crops
•    To have all countries take mandatory measures against GM contamination.
In the event these measures fail, the committee voted in favour of having
governments ensure that those responsible for the contamination pay damages.
•    That biotech companies have to give access to the material necessary
for independent research into GM risks.
•    To change the legal basis of the draft law, from being rooted in
internal market principles to environment ones.
•    Against seed labelling proposals that could open the door to seed
contamination.

Parliament is due to vote on the GM law in plenary on 7 June.

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