Animal feed groups seek GM clarity from European Commission
Fefac, Fediol and Coceral are all lobbying the Commission, accusing the EU authority of prevaricating on requests for GM import authorisations.
The feed industry groups argues that the EU could face serious animal feed shortages unless the Commission relaxes its resistance to GM crops. There are 12 GM crop import authorisations awaiting final decision by the EU College of Commissioners, following completion of the EFSA scientific assessment and EU risk management process.
Fefac has warned the Commission that the EU’s compound feed production fell by 0.6% to 153.6m tonnes, the lowest figures since 2011. EU production of cattle feed fell by 1.5% last year.
Fefac stated: “The sharp drop in dairy prices affected significantly the demand for compound feed for dairy cows, which did not benefit at all from the 5% increase in milk deliveries in 2014.”
The industry group’s studies show pig feed production down 1.0% and poultry feed flattening. It projects that the EU’s 2015 animal feed production will continue to be driven down by factors such as Russia’s ban on western imports, variable weather forecasts and other global market factors.
Fefac is predicting a further decline in overall EU compound feed production this year of 0.5%, as it anticipates that Europe’s cattle and pork sectors will experience a continued decline for the remainder of 2015.
Other animal feed groups warn that a customs blockage of soybean meal shipments from the US, where some of these GM crops are already commercially grown, could cost EU importers up to €100m per month.
