EU will not appeal WTO GM ruling

The EU will not appeal against the WTO ruling that Brussels is illegally blocking imports of GM food from the US and other pro-biotech states.

The US says the decision means Brussels will have to speed up its GM approval process.

But Brussels insists the move does not mean the flood gates will now be opened to GM. 

"The European commission has decided not to appeal the GM decision as the current regulatory provisions are not in any way affected by the judgment," a commission spokesman told reporters on Tuesday.

"The current approval system works, as evidenced by the approval of ten authorizations since the (WTO dispute) panel was established. More authorizations are in the pipeline."

Washington says the EU’s approvals process is based on “politically motivated delays."

US ambassador to the WTO in Geneva said, "The findings of the WTO panel uphold the principle of science based policymaking over unjustified, anti-biotech policies."

Earlier this year, the WTO ruled that the EU had broken trade rules by operating a "de facto moratorium" on GM products.

It also ruled that national bans applied on certain GM products by six EU member states – Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Luxembourg – were in violation of WTO rules.

NGOs insist countries have a right to ban GM and have criticized the European commission for failing to
appeal against the WTO position.

"This sets a dangerous precedent for future environmental disputes,” Friends of the Earth Europe said.

“It is not for the WTO to decide what we eat or how we protect our environment."

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