By Emily Smith - 5th March 2004
America’s legal challenge to the EU over its failure to authorise new genetically modified crops stepped up a notch on Friday.
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) chose the panel of experts who will preside over the US challenge, meaning that it can now go ahead with hearing the case.
Washington brought its case against the EU to the World Trade Organisation in May 2003 over its refusal to authorise GMOs for the past five years.
It claims that this de facto moratorium is a barrier to free trade and harmful to the livelihoods of US farmers.
Evidence will be heard by the WTO panel this year and a verdict should be reached in 2005 – pending appeals from the EU.
Europe’s ministers are expected to decide on the authorisation of two new gene altered crops – BT-11 and NK603 – in the coming weeks.
Washington refused to comment on how a green light for either maize would affect the WTO case.
Edward Kemp, spokesman for US Mission to the EU said "The informal moratorium on new biotech product applications has been in effect since 1998".
"We have discussed the issue extensively with our EU counterparts with no real progress since that time".
"We believe that we now need to restore the credibility of the international trading system."
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