1. EU set to back tougher laws on genetically modified crops (FT)
2. Monsanto upbeat on GM approvals - Brazil
3. Aventis chiefs in GM blunder sacked (Guardian)
4. Euro-row ignites over GM crops (BBC)
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EU set to back tougher laws on genetically modified crops
By Michael Mann in London Financial Times (London) February 13, 2001
The European parliament is set to give its final blessing to a new law on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) tomorrow, raising the possibility of ending the de facto moratorium on approving new GMOs in the European Union. The EU has licensed no new GM crops since April 1998 amid widespread public concern over potential health and environmental risks linked with the technology. The new law to be voted on tomorrow would propose toughening rules governing the planting of GMOs, including improved risk assessments and monitoring of crops. Several governments have refused to consider new applications until the approvals process was revised. European consumer confidence has been undermined by a series of recent food scares, including the mad cow disease crisis, and a number of supermarkets have pledged to remove food derived from GMOs from their product range. Leading biotechnology companies have urged rapid action to get the approvals process moving again. A joint committee representing the parliament and EU governments agreed a position on the proposals late last year, but this still requires the support of the parliament as a whole. "If this is approved, it will give us the toughest GMO laws in the world," said David Bowe, the socialist MEP who has guided the legislation through parliament. But he warned that some political groups might not support the plan because the European Commission had failed so far to produce follow-up legislation to improve the traceability and labelling of GMOs, and to define more clearly companies' environmental liability. The new rules tighten up the existing system in a number of ways, requiring more stringent risk assessments, improving crop monitoring, gradually phasing out potentially harmful antibiotic genes from GMOs and ensuring that licences have to be renewed periodically. Biotechnology companies are hoping the new safeguards will be sufficient to calm consumer fears and persuade EU governments to lift their moratorium on new products. However, each new application will still have to be approved by a majority of the 15 EU states. "We believe this agreement should restart the regulatory process in Europe. The first votes (on new products) may follow just a few months from this week's decision," said Monsanto, which has several products waiting for approval. For regional reports, www.ft.com/europe LOAD-DATE: February 12, 2001
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Monsanto upbeat on GM approvals
BIOTECHNOLOGY US GROUP BUOYED BY CREATION OF BRAZILIAN REGULATORY AUTHORITY
By CHRISTOPHER BOWE
Financial Times (London) February 13, 2001 Monsanto, the US agricultural chemicals and biotechnology group, said yesterday that prospects had improved for approval of its genetically modified seeds in key potential markets. The Brazilian government created a national regulatory authority for biotechnology issues in December, company officials said. They see this move as a key step to gaining approval for the company's genetically modified soyabean seeds. Brazil's soyabean market is the second biggest behind the US and it is a key competitor in export markets. Monsanto already sells to Argentina, another big grain producer. "Seed is planted around the end of the year (in Brazil) and we're working really hard toward that target," said Hugh Grant, chief operating officer. Monsanto executives also expressed confidence in the eventual use of modified cotton seeds in India. Upon approval, it estimates that seeds made by a local supplier using its licensed technology could account for about half of the country's 22m-25m planted acres of cotton. The company said it expected approval within two years. In Japan, Monsanto is awaiting approval of its corn seed and the European Commission is close to completing rule changes that would allow it to start seeking approvals again. The upbeat comments came as Monsanto, 85 per cent owned by US drug-maker Pharmacia, beat Wall Street's expectations for its fourth- quarter results. Monsanto said a new capital structure, cutting Dollars 90m in expenses in the year, and higher sales, particularly of its Roundup herbicides, helped boost its performance. Pharmacia bought Monsanto, which included pharmaceuticals, and spun it off last October with only agricultural chemicals and biotechnology using the name. Excluding charges for restructuring and writedowns, underlying profit in the fourth quarter was Dollars 31m, compared with a loss in the same quarter last year of Dollars 25m. The results are pro forma net income assuming Monsanto's reduced debt level applied to all of 1999 and 2000. Sales in the quarter rose 7 per cent to Dollars 1.208bn, from Dollars 1.128bn. Monsanto management expects 2001 sales growth of about 5 per cent, and profit increases of 9-13 per cent, on higher sales of herbicide and seeds. The company expects plantings of its GM seeds to rise this year. GM seed acreage with Monsanto seeds grew 15 per cent last year. LOAD-DATE: February 12, 2001 [Entered February 13, 2001] ===================#===================
Aventis chiefs in GM blunder sacked
Andrew Clark and Jane Martinson in New York
The Guardian (London) February 13
Three executives at Aventis CropScience in the US have been sacked after a scandal last year in which the French firm's banned genetically modified maize was found in food at Taco Bell restaurants. Aventis's agribusiness head office in Lyon confirmed yesterday that Maurice Delage, president of its US crop sciences division, left the firm on Friday. General counsel Karen Weiner and Ed Makowski, vice president of market development, were also dismissed. An Aventis spokesman said it was "fair" to link the departure of the three to controversy concerning StarLink - a form of maize developed by the company to resist insects. US regulators approved StarLink for use in animal feed, but banned it from the human food chain amid concern that it could cause allergic rashes and diarrhoea. Aventis promised to keep StarLink separate from crops intended for food supplies. But tests by pressure group Friends of the Earth revealed traces in taco shells served at branches of Taco Bell. The incident has infuriated environmentalists and has cost Aventis a fortune - the group has set aside Dollars 100m (pounds 65m) to cover compensation for farmers and customers. LOAD-DATE: February 13, 2001 [Entered February 13, 2001]
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Euro-row ignites over GM crops
BBC News Tuesday, 13 February, 2001, 11:20 GMT http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_1167000/1167511.stm
Europe is grappling with its policy over genetic engineering - with a debate in parliament and a court case looking set to expose divisions over how to tackle the explosive issue. In parliament, members will discuss a deal which would clear the way for new varieties of GM crops to be licensed by the EU - ending a three-year de facto ban. And in court, 14 judges will be asked by the Netherlands to throw out European rules on patenting GM crops and animals. Genetic engineering has divided Europe's governments and sparked protests in a number of countries, including the sabotaging of trials. Protesters fear GM crops could turn into super-weeds The possible change of rules on crops, to be debated by European members of parliament in Strasbourg, has been thrashed out in painstaking negotiations over many months. The new deal would allow licences to be granted, but only if firms provided a risk assessment and carried out continuous monitoring of any possible dangers. Permission would lapse after a certain period. If the parliament gives its backing, the new rules will still have to be formally adopted by the Council of Ministers. Policy 'mess' France is believed to be leading a rearguard action of five nations who want the deal blocked and the ban to continue. More than a dozen licences had been granted before the moratorium came into effect, including four from the biotech giant Monsanto. A wave of new applications is expected from Monsanto and others if the deal goes through. Crusader: Jose Bove has led French protests Consumer protection commissioner David Byrne has said the new regulations are designed to get the EU out of a "mess" over its current policy. For the past three years, new varieties of GM crops have been subject to the de facto ban because of safety fears and public resistance to eating GM foods. But pressure has continued from the United States and the big biotechnology firms, who want a clear system of regulation. A vote is expected on Wednesday. Court battle In the Court of Justice in Luxembourg, meanwhile, the Dutch Government is leading the legal challenge to GM patenting - backed by Italy and Norway. The case centres on the most recent European Commission directive on patenting, which set out rules for advances relating to human, plant and animal genes. The 15 EU members are now supposed to ensure the protection of such biotech inventions under their own national laws. But the three governments object to being asked to protect inventions to which they are strongly opposed and have taken the matter to court. A decision is not expected for several months. Environmentalists say GM crops could spawn "superweeds" and damage human health. Their arguments have not been scientifically proven, but neither has the opposite claim that GM crops are safe.