Washington, D.C. – Friends of the Earth (FOE blasted the Bush administration’s decision to challenge the European Union’s restrictions on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) before the World Trade Organization (WTO). FOE said that the case is the latest in a series of attempts by the Bush administration to block efforts by other countries to protect public health and the environment.
“The Bush administration is catering to the interests of major biotech corporations rather than human health. They have been reduced to using the secretive and undemocratic procedures of the WTO to try to force people into accepting food they do not want," said Brent Blackwelder, president of Friends of the Earth.
"They have no solid scientific basis on which to make their case for these crops. The United States still has no rigorous approval for these foods, and biotech companies have been left to evaluate themselves and the safety of their own products," said Blackwelder.
Biotechnology giants such as Monsanto and big agricultural interests such as the National Corn Growers Association heavily lobbied the Bush administration to bring a formal WTO case challenging the EU's regulatory system for GMO products. WTO negotiations and dispute settlement proceedings are completely closed to the public.
"This is the moment of truth for the future of GMO food in Europe, and future trade relations between the European Union and United States," said Larry Bohlen of Friends of the Earth.
Friends of the Earth: http://www.foe.org
Please also see:
"USDA Sold Potentially Toxic Corn to Food and Feed Handler
May Have Violated Cargill Policy and Monsanto Grower Agreement";
http://www.foe.org/new/releases/0503cornshow.html
and the Greenpeace Campaign Against Genetic Engineering;
http://www.greenpeace.org/international_en/campaigns/intro?campaign%5fid=3942
“The Bush administration is catering to the interests of major biotech corporations rather than human health. They have been reduced to using the secretive and undemocratic procedures of the WTO to try to force people into accepting food they do not want," said Brent Blackwelder, president of Friends of the Earth.
"They have no solid scientific basis on which to make their case for these crops. The United States still has no rigorous approval for these foods, and biotech companies have been left to evaluate themselves and the safety of their own products," said Blackwelder.
Biotechnology giants such as Monsanto and big agricultural interests such as the National Corn Growers Association heavily lobbied the Bush administration to bring a formal WTO case challenging the EU's regulatory system for GMO products. WTO negotiations and dispute settlement proceedings are completely closed to the public.
"This is the moment of truth for the future of GMO food in Europe, and future trade relations between the European Union and United States," said Larry Bohlen of Friends of the Earth.
Friends of the Earth: http://www.foe.org
Please also see:
"USDA Sold Potentially Toxic Corn to Food and Feed Handler
May Have Violated Cargill Policy and Monsanto Grower Agreement";
http://www.foe.org/new/releases/0503cornshow.html
and the Greenpeace Campaign Against Genetic Engineering;
http://www.greenpeace.org/international_en/campaigns/intro?campaign%5fid=3942