Move to allow traces of unapproved GMOs
That will be one of the aims of a proposal she is expected to make, to reduce the maximum level for genetically modified (GM) residues in imported animal feed ingredients.
Feeds have been dearer in the EU because an estimated 200,000 tonnes of US soybeans have been blocked at EU ports this year. They contained trace amounts of two GM maizes not yet been approved by member states — although they have been declared safe by EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority.
Livestock feed shortages are imminent, due to member states’ attitudes to GM crops, according to the European Commission. Mrs Boel recently told agriculture ministers that “breaking the log-jam of GM crop approvals” would throw a lifeline to dairy, beef and pig farmers who face high feed prices.
Her stance was supported by Belgium, Britain, Denmark, Portugal, Romania, Spain, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, officials said. Austria, a GM opponent which usually blocks approvals, and Poland, expressed scepticism. Ministers from France and Germany did not speak in the debate. (Ireland usually abstains in votes on approving new genetically modified crops.)
The EU imports nearly two-thirds of the 33.5 million tonnes of the soybean meal used each year by its food and livestock industry.
A commission official said continued resistance to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) could see European farmers lose market share to imported meat from GM-fed livestock.
“The worst case scenario is that eventually it becomes so expensive to import protein that our own guys go out of business and we end up importing meat from countries fed on the same GMOs not approved for use here.”
“If we don’t solve the problem of zero tolerance shortly, then we will have to stop the imports altogether,” said Klaus-Dieter Schumacher, president of COCERAL, the group that represents Europe’s cereal and foodstuff makers.
Ms Boel said: “The fundamental question here is not about liking or disliking GMOs, it’s about maintaining a competitive large-scale meat production in the EU, or preferring to import our meat from third countries that do not have the same reluctance about GMOs.”
She has been backed by Commission President Barroso who said it should be possible to combine EU authorisation based on science with freedom for member states to decide if they wish to grow GM crops.
At the moment, if a GM variety is unapproved, no trade of it is allowed enter the EU.
The rejected shipments of soybeans had minute amounts of non-approved maize, presumably from a previous load that the ship carried.
Ms Boel is expected to overcome this feed trade problem by proposing a higher threshold for adventitious contamination, raising it from the current zero level to a minute level of perhaps 0.1%.
