Environmental activists Monday accused the United States and Argentina of using the World Trade Organization to bully other countries that try to pass laws restricting genetically modified crops and livestock.

Friends of the Earth said it has acquired documents showing countries such as Bolivia, Sri Lanka and Croatia faced "overwhelming pressure" from the WTO when they tried to restrict genetically modified organisms.

"The U.S. governments promotion of genetically modified organisms is so aggressive that it is working to overturn other countries laws," group Director Larry Bohlen said.

He said documents show Sri Lanka and Croatia backed away from approving bans on genetically modified crops after the United States got the World Trade Organization to pressure them.

Likewise, Bolivia approved a one-year ban on genetic crops and livestock, with the intent being to approve a permanent ban later in the year. But Argentina and its agri-biotech corporations were able to pressure Bolivia into repealing the one-year ban in October and all talk of approving a permanent ban has stopped.

Bohlen said that the European Union is likely to face similar pressure in upcoming months.

"We are calling on our government to stop unilaterally imposing its will on other parts of the world," Bohlen said.

Agreeing was Juan Lopez, a genetic engineering adviser for the activist group. "The World Trade Organization is the instrument that the United States and biotech corporations are using to force countries around the world to accept" genetic crops and livestock, said Bohlen.

"Every country in the world should have the right to establish moratoria on the introduction of (genetic crops) until adequate regulatory frameworks and effective monitoring and enforcement capabilities are in place to ensure sound bio-safety regulation," he said.

Environmental activists contend genetically modified crops are not adequately tested to ensure their safety and their view is common among officials of many European nations. Supporters of the such crops say environmentalists exaggerate possible health threats.
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for more on croatia see: http://members.tripod.com/~ngin/121201c.htm