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European Commission DG TRADE
EU
NEW GMO LEGISLATION
Regulation 1829/2003
Regulation 1830/2003
Ottawa – Winnipeg
June 2005
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The EU today
25 Member States
since May 1st 2004
Population 455
million (7.3% of world)
GDP over € 9,500
billion (28% of world)
Total trade with the
world € 1.3 billion
imports.
A single currency €
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EU – NAFTA Ag.trade
EU trade 2002 in agricultural products with NAFTA
(million Euro)
EU imports
Total = 9137 mn Euro
EU exports
Total = 14110 mn Euro
Oilseeds and oils
Fruit & vegetables, cotton, tobacco
Other raw products
Cereals
Livestock
Tropical
Dairy
Raw products:
Total imports
7024 mn Euro
Raw products:
Total exports
5107 mn Euro
Sugar
Cigarettes tobacco products
Processed products:
Total imports
2065 mn Euro
Processed products:
Total exports
8933 mn Euro
Soft drinks fruit juices
Food preparations
Wine vermouth
Other alcoholic beverages
Other: Total imports
48 mn Euro
3.000
Other: Total exports
70 mn Euro
Confidential trade
2.000
1.000
Source : Eurostat COMEXT 13 February 2004 (Statistical regime 4)
0
1.000
2.000
3.000
4.000
5.000
DG Trade-C-2 Paul Verburgt
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Food Safety
A series of unfortunate crisis
1995: BSE crisis
[1997: First shipments of GM soy/corn]
1999: Dioxin crisis
2000: UK F & M out-break
Food safety is high on consumers’ /
citizens agenda
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Consumers’ trust
in various organizations
(1) Medical profession
(2) Consumer organizations
(3) Environmental organizations
…
(7) International organizations
(8) National government bodies
54%
49%
46%
17%
14%
Source: Eurobarometer 2002
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Europeans are also concerned
about their environment
24% of EU citizens are concerned about
the use of GMOs in Ag.
(But 43% in some MS)
40% of EU citizens consider that they lack
information on GMOs in Agriculture.
Environmental NGOs remain the most
trusty sources of information (42%) before
scientists (32%)
Source: Eurobarometer 2004
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Working on a solution
Crucial need to regain consumer
confidence
2000 White paper on food safety
‘’Farm to fork” strategy
Transparency and consumer choice
of utmost importance
But measures must be feasible
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EU Biotech
What’s the problem?
Biotech industry employed poor
marketing strategy
Scaremongering / opportunistic
organizations
Food processors/retailers went GM
free
Consumers: why take possible risk
if there’s no benefit
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New legislation
[Directive 2001/18 on environmental
release – in place since 2002)
Regulation 1829/2003 on GM Food and
Feed
Regulation 1830/2003 on Traceability
and labelling of GMOs and traceability
of GM food and feed.
Apply since April 2004
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