By Emily Smith - 22nd March 2004
The EU is set to authorise the first release of genetically modified crops in years, rendering a US legal challenge irrelevant, according to health commissioner David Byrne.
Washington brought a World Trade Organisation (WTO) case against the EU in May 2003 over a Brussels refusal to authorise GMOs since 1998.
But with two biotech crops are currently pending approval by Europe’s agriculture ministers the dispute may be over.
Following meetings with US trade officials this weekend Byrne told journalists: “I confidently predict the first of those authorizations will come forward in a matter of weeks.”
He added that following this: “I would expect the (WTO) case to fall away, in one way or another.”
“Quite obviously, if authorizations are made, (a WTO) panel wouldn't have any work to do.”
The two crops awaiting approval are a herbicide-resistant Monsanto marketed maize called NK603 and another maize, this time from Syngenta, known as BT-11.
BT-11 will be the first up for scrutiny: EU presidency officials confirmed last month that this will be discussed at April’s agriculture council, scheduled for April 26 and 27 in Brussels.
Byrne said he expected NK603 to come up some weeks later.
But Washington reacted with caution to Byrne’s comments.
A US government official told Eupolitix.com that they “would be examining authorisations as they happen.”
“The US wants to see a predictable and timely process in place for authorisations.”
“Action on a single application will not necessarily meet our concerns.”
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