GM debate: Rifts open in the EU executive

Brussels is set for a heated debate on the EU's future GM policy after European commissioners delivered conflicting messages on biotech safety.

European environment commissioner Stavros Dimas told delegates attending a conference on coexistence policies that he had concerns over the environmental impact of GM crops.

“There are concerns today as to whether coexistence is possible if cultivation of GM crops increases,” said Dimas.

“There are even greater fears about the impact of GM crops on the environment and on biodiversity.”

His remarks appeared to contradict those of agriculture chief Mariann Fischer Boel, also attending the Austrian EU presidency event in Vienna.

Fischer Boel opted for a more low key approach, explaining to conference delegates the rationale behind her recent decision not to introduce EU-wide coexistence rules.

The Danish commissioner stayed ‘on message’, reiterating that coexistence was about technicalities – segregation distances, threshold content and liability systems – rather than health or environmental concerns.

“Coexistence policy is not about the safety of people, animals or the environment. It is not a tool for managing risks to health or to the environment,” she said.

And she emphasised that coexistence controls only applied to GM crops that had already been cleared as “harmless” by EU risk assessment procedures.

But Dimas said the EU had a duty to take concerns over GM crop contamination “very seriously”.

"As environment commissioner, I am keen to ensure that the environment is protected from potential risks arising from the cultivation of GMOs,” he said.

"Applications for cultivation of GMO products raise a whole new series of possible risks to the environment, notably potential longer-term effects that could impact on biodiversity."

Dimas, who is currently sitting on three outstanding applications for GM cultivation hinted that he could use new strict regulations to block their approval.

"No new GM varieties have as yet been approved under the new regulatory framework. And it is essential that we address such potential risks before granting approvals for their cultivation."

Dimas also angered pro GM campaigners after last minute changes to his prepared speech saw him include emotive references to “suicide seeds” and “terminator technology”.

The Greek commissioner also suggested that most GM crops were grown by large agri-business concerns and not small farmers.

And ahead of a crucial European commission orientation meeting on GM next week, Dimas said that he believed that there would be little future demand for biotech crops.

“The low level of acceptance of GM crops will mean that consumer demand for GMOs is not likely to increase and as a consequence farmers will choose to continue to grow conventional or organic varieties in Europe.”

Dimas’ fierce attack on GM came as an unexpected surprise to those attending the conference.

“He’s really set the cat amongst the pigeons now,” said one commission official.

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