Greenpeace EU expert Franziska Achterberg comments: “The Commission should admit that modifying genes qualifies as genetic engineering. EC should stop concealing that and should reassure EU citizens that it will not allow the industry to get round the strict rules, which regulate genetically modified organisms. Fundamental questions as public trust and transparency are put at risk, and the Commission ought to undertake proper action.”
Documents published by Greenpeace, Corporate Europe Observatory and GeneWatch UK indicate that US pressure is focused on potential impediments to commerce from applying EU GMO regulation. It seems the USA wants the EU to cut on health and environment guarantees regarding GMO, in order to clear the way for Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The next round of talks on the Agreement starts on April 25, 2016 in New York.
Meglena Antonova, Greenpeace Bulgaria organic farming coordinator, says: “Despite their shortcomings, EU’s regulations covering genetically modified organisms require tests for safety and labelling. If these new techniques for plants selection be not classified as GMO, the safety tests and labelling rules will not apply to them. This may mean that starting next year various types of GMO will appear in our plates and in our fields without us even knowing about it. That is why it is necessary that we stand up against this nontransparent process.”
EC fails to regulate new genetically modified organisms
