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London, 11th June 2008
On the occasion of the international grain trade dinner in London, GAFTA's president, Pedro Palomo,
focussed on the need for governments and authorities to take a robust stand and speed up the
authorisation process of GM events as the current situation is entirely unworkable. Europe needs a fully
functioning regulatory system and the trade urges the Commission to support EFSA'si scientific opinion
and most importantly to encourage synchronous approvals. The international trade cannot take the risk
of importing GM commodities without a fully functioning approvals system. Not all EU decisions to
date have been taken based on sound science and as a result trade in corn products has been disrupted.
Mr Palomo said alarm bells are also ringing with potential problems and disruption for the future of soya
imports. The EU has a well known deficit in soya and is currently importing 35 mt, much needed for the
EU food and compound feed sectors. With rising prices and increased food costs overall, the absence of
this protein source will be felt by European consumers. The EU can no longer dismiss GM. The feed
industry has already felt the effects of the high prices of this campaign and faces a very bleak future
should the EU not sort its approval system out. Moreover, the Traders cannot risk importing
consignments with small traces of unapproved events which would be unlawful. The current zero
tolerance is unsustainable.
Last year this amounted to an effective ban on the import of corn products from the US. Zero tolerances
are impossible to achieve in the vast tonnages shipped in bulk worldwide and to avoid the risk of
importing unapproved events, be it at low levels, goods will be directed elsewhere. This will continue
with increased plantings worldwide and the situation will worsen this autumn with planting of GM soya
traits in third countries not yet approved in the EU. Decisions on biotechnology must be based on sound
science and not on political rhetoric. The EU must set a sensible threshold when discussing the
redefinition of zero tolerance policy so the trade can continue to carry on importing food and feed
without disruption.
ABOUT GAFTA
GAFTA's aim is to promote the international trade and to protect the interests of its Members
which has been the driving force since 1878. GAFTA is an international trade association with
more than 1000 Members in over 90 countries. GAFTA Members are involved in trading grain,
animal feedstuffs, pulses and rice or provide services to the Trade as brokers, superintendents,
banks, analysts, arbitrators, professional firms and solicitors.
GAFTA has its headquarters in London and has representative offices in the Ukraine and China.
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