Wednesday, May 07, 2008

EU delays decision on biotech licensing

By Associated Press

The European Commission delayed a decision on licensing the cultivation of three biotech crops Wednesday -- raising doubts about whether the EU will open its market to genetically modified foods.

Applications for growing two biotech corn products and an engineered potato were sent back to the European Union's food agency, EFSA, for further scientific review, EU spokesman Johannes Laitenberger said.

The agency has already approved the products, but ''the Commission has decided to ask EFSA to take another look'' after new scientific issues were raised late last year, Laitenberger said.

The Commission will make a final decision based on the evidence, not political or emotional arguments, he said.

The EU executive is under pressure from both industry and environmental groups over the applications, with exporters of biotech products -- including the U.S. and Canada -- also watching the decision closely.

EU member nations are divided between those supporting economic arguments for wider biotech crop cultivation, and those concerned about potential long-term effects on health and the environment. With EU member states in disagreement, the EU Commission has the last say.

The three products include the Bt-11 corn seed, made by Switzerland's Syngenta AG, and the corn 1507, produced by U.S.-based Pioneer Hi-Bred and Dow Agrosciences. Also being considered is Germany's BASF AG's ''Amflora'' potato, designed to provide starch for industrial uses.

The companies expressed frustration with the delay. They say their products would help reduce global food shortages that have led to rioting on several continents, and that they pose no harm to human health or the environment.

''The 1507 maize cultivation application was submitted nearly seven years ago,'' said Gyula Kovacs, Pioneer Europe's director of operations. She urged the Commission ''to live up to'' EU rules for approving biotech crops and act on EFSA's previous approvals.

BASF renewed a threat of legal action over the nine-month delay for its potato application. Company official Mette Johansson said there was ''no new scientific data'' suggesting Amflora was unsafe.

Environmental groups argue, however, that the maize seeds contain pesticides that could pose problems for wildlife and humans. They warn the potato contains a gene making it resistant to antibiotics that could spread to conventional crops.

Marco Contiero, of Greenpeace, said the delay was ''a clear vote of no confidence'' in EFSA.

If licensed, the biotech crops would be the first in a decade to be authorized for cultivation within Europe.