1.EU Postpones Key Vote on Approving New "Live" GMO
2.EU Prepares for Busy Timetable on GMO Votes
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1.EU Postpones Key Vote on Approving New "Live" GMO
BELGIUM: May 13, 2005
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/30789/story.htm

BRUSSELS - The European Commission has postponed a watershed vote of EU environment experts on whether to allow a new genetically modified (GMO) crop to be grown in Europe's fields, officials at the EU executive said on Thursday.

There was no new date for the meeting, which was tentatively scheduled for June 6, they said -- although in theory, the committee of experts is next due to meet in mid-September.
It would have been the EU's first attempt to approve a "live" GMO for planting since 1998, before the bloc began its six-year ban on allowing imports of new GMOs.

That ban, or moratorium, was lifted last year by a default legal process that entered into effect when EU states were unable to break their longstanding deadlock over biotech foods.

"The June 6 meeting is off, it's been postponed. There doesn't seem to be any particular reason," one Commission official said, adding that the move appeared to be more administrative than political.

On the draft agenda for the June 6 meeting was a discussion on whether to authorise a GMO maize known as 1507, made jointly by Pioneer Hi-Bred International, a subsidiary of DuPont Co., and Dow AgroSciences unit Mycogen seeds.

It is engineered to resist the corn-borer insect, among other pests, and a widely used type of herbicide.

A handful of GMO crops, mainly maize types, were authorised for growing across the EU shortly before the moratorium began. No new crop has been allowed for planting since then.

European consumers tend to take a dim view of GMO products, which have been labelled "Frankenstein foods", despite assurances from producers and scientists that they are safe.

REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
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2.EU Prepares for Busy Timetable on GMO Votes
BELGIUM: May 13, 2005
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/30796/story.htm

BRUSSELS - The European Commission has scheduled several meetings of EU ministers and member state experts in the coming weeks to debate approving new genetically modified (GMO) crops and foods, officials said on Wednesday.

The Commission, the EU's executive arm, has also scheduled discussions of various national GMO bans on particular GMO seeds and crops, which it wants the EU governments involved to lift.
These debates will be highly sensitive since they impinge on national sovereignty. Commission representatives will be present at all the meetings.

Following is a tentative timetable of the meetings with a brief description of the agendas:

MAY 17

Postal vote by EU food safety experts on GMO maize known as 1507 made by Pioneer Hi-Bred International and Mycogen Seeds for use in industrial processing, including in animal feed. Results of vote not expected until May 18.

MAY 18

Seeds committee; EU member state experts. Debate will focus on decisions by Poland and Hungary to ban 17 different varieties of GMO maize seed made by US biotech giant Monsanto.

MAY 19

Food/Feed committee; EU member state experts. Debate will focus on application to approve Monsanto's GMO maize known as MON 863 for use as an ingredient in processed foods; and also Pioneer/Mycogen's 1507 maize for use in food for human consumption. Neither application relates to cultivation.

JUNE 6 (to be confirmed)

"Deliberate Release" committee; EU environment experts. May discuss Pioneer/Mycogen application to approve 1507 maize for growing. If approved, this would be the first "live" GMO to be authorised for cultivation in the European Union since 1998.

JUN 24

Environment Council (EU ministers). Debate will focus on Commission's proposal to force Austria, France, Germany, Greece and Luxembourg to lift their various national GMO bans imposed between 1997 and 2000 on three maize and two rapeseed types; ministers will also discuss Monsanto's application to approve MON 863 maize for use in animal feed.

REUTERS NEWS SERVICE