9 Jun 2005 @ 17:47, by Raymond Powers
Global Agreement on Mandatory Labeling of GMOs Blocked by Brazil & New Zealand
June 8, 2005
Sadly, the second meeting of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP/MOP2) held in Montreal, Canada last week, did not achieve what many had hoped for. On the key issue of labelling, on which agreement was needed, consensus was repeatedly blocked by two countries: Brazil and New Zealand.
The majority of countries (over 100) wanted strong controls which involved the documentation and identification of GM crops being exported, and only to countries that have specifically approved those varieties for import. However, Brazil and New Zealand repeatedly refused to agree to these proposals. Participants offered to make many compromises, and sat late into the night redrafting proposals so that at least something might be drawn from this meeting. But to no avail, as Brazil and New Zealand rejected everything that was offered, and wanted only an unspecific ³may contain GMOs² labelling practice.
As Dr Tewolde of Ethiopia (who finally arrived late at the negotiations, after world-wide outrage at Canada's denial of his visa) pointed out that this would allow "global genetic pollution to escape unnoticed and unscathed². Dr Tewolde urged developing countries to develop strict requirements for documentation in their national legislations.
Brazil was once a GM-Free country, with its interests in common with other developing countries. Now however, extensive contamination and industry pressure has led to the approval of GM soya, which means that compulsory and specific labelling of GM could affect its export market.
But few people could understand New Zealand's position, since they do not grow or export GM crops. Of course, the inevitable whispers were that New Zealand was acting as unofficial representative for industry and US
interests.
Best wishes, Teresa P.s. On the issue of Canada¹s denial of visas to several participants from developing countries, the Canadians appear to have given their promise that this will not happen again.
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