Pages above:
The US, with support from Canada and Argentina, wanted the EU to accept
its genetically engineered (GE) produce. The EU responded to its
citizens' wishes and opted for a more precautionary approach to
GE food. The WTO, while admitting that it could not decide whether GE
food is safe or not, still decided that it was the best judge of what
the citizens of Europe should be eating.
"All this verdict proves is that the WTO is unqualified to deal with complex scientific and environmental issues, as it puts trade interests above all others. Its only effect has been to reinforce the determination of EU countries to resist bullying by pro-genetic-engineering governments and to say no to GE crops and food," said Eric Gall, Greenpeace EU policy adviser.
Both the EU and US will attempt to spin the verdict in their favour in this case. In reality, the final ruling by the WTO has given neither side in the dispute a clear victory.
The pawns in this battle are the European farmers, consumers and even the EU member states that want to maintain their right to determine whether or not they want GE crops to contaminate their fields and food.
As the chess game was being played the rest of the world simply did what their citizens wanted. More and more countries implemented bans on GE organisms. So far 12 bans on specific GE organisms are already in place in seven countries. Even as the WTO handed down its ruling, Poland is forging ahead with plans to ban the trade and growing of GE seed.
Poland is the second largest agricultural producer in the EU and their act of solidarity with farmers and consumers across the EU and beyond sends a strong signal that Poland and Europe have chosen the road of GE-free rather than contamination by GE crops.
After three years, the wrangling at the WTO is over for now. But the ruling won't silence the resistance to GE in Europe, and individual governments are likely to defy the WTO for as long as their people remain opposed to being force-fed products that are unsafe for the environment.
Click here for more information about this issue.
"All this verdict proves is that the WTO is unqualified to deal with complex scientific and environmental issues, as it puts trade interests above all others. Its only effect has been to reinforce the determination of EU countries to resist bullying by pro-genetic-engineering governments and to say no to GE crops and food," said Eric Gall, Greenpeace EU policy adviser.
Both the EU and US will attempt to spin the verdict in their favour in this case. In reality, the final ruling by the WTO has given neither side in the dispute a clear victory.
The pawns in this battle are the European farmers, consumers and even the EU member states that want to maintain their right to determine whether or not they want GE crops to contaminate their fields and food.
As the chess game was being played the rest of the world simply did what their citizens wanted. More and more countries implemented bans on GE organisms. So far 12 bans on specific GE organisms are already in place in seven countries. Even as the WTO handed down its ruling, Poland is forging ahead with plans to ban the trade and growing of GE seed.
Poland is the second largest agricultural producer in the EU and their act of solidarity with farmers and consumers across the EU and beyond sends a strong signal that Poland and Europe have chosen the road of GE-free rather than contamination by GE crops.
After three years, the wrangling at the WTO is over for now. But the ruling won't silence the resistance to GE in Europe, and individual governments are likely to defy the WTO for as long as their people remain opposed to being force-fed products that are unsafe for the environment.
Click here for more information about this issue.
Take Action
GREENPEACE EMAIL
