basf rm schmidt aldeseminar gmo 31032011

8/7/2019 Basf Rm Schmidt Aldeseminar Gmo 31032011

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Justifying restrictions onthe cultivation of GMcrops?

ALDE seminar, Brussels, 31 March 2011

Dr. Ralf-Michael Schmidt

Justifying restrictions onthe cultivation of GM

crops?

ALDE seminar, Brussels, 31 March 2011

Dr. Ralf-Michael Schmidt


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Rising standards of living

Speculation

Growing world population

Challenges in global agriculture

Industrial applications

Cropdemand

will doublein the next20-30 years

Increasing energy demand

Biotechnology can help to meet the demand


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Cultivation of GM crops worldwide:

Socioeconomic aspects

Added value (1996-2009):

65 bill. US-$ (farm level)

Yield increase (1996-2009):equivalent to yield ofconventional crops on

75 mio. ha

Reduction in CO2

-emissions

(2009): equivalent to theCO2

-emissions of 7,8 mio.

cars

Source: Clive James, ISAAA 2010

Source: ISAAA Letter 42: Global Status of Commercialized Biotech / GM Crops: 2010


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GM crop cultivation:

Safety aspects

EC-sponsored Research on Safety of

Genetically Modified Organisms. (1985-2000)

The use of more precise technology and thegreater regulatory scrutiny probably makes GMOs

even safer than conventional plants and foods.

Biotechnology, and in particular GMOs,

are not per se more risky than e.g.conventional plant breeding technologies.

"A decade of EU-funded GMO research.(2001-2010)


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Commission proposal on nationalization:

Legal aspects Council Legal Service Opinion (5 November 2010):

The proposal is not validly based on Art. 114 TFEU.

Purely economic, ethical and moral grounds to opt-out are questionable. WTO compatibility

is questionable.

European Parliament Legal Service Opinion (17 November 2010):

Legal base (Art. 114 TFEU) of the proposal is given.

Purely economic, ethical and moral grounds to opt-out are questionable.

WTO compatibility is questionable. Commission Legal Service Reaction (19 November 2010): The proposal is validly based on Art. 114 TFEU.

Grounds to opt-out: "...do not exclude that apart from ethics, other grounds could beinvoked such as 'public order' ... , or other reasons relating to public interest aiming atpreserving cultural and social tradition or at ensuring feasibility of controls or balancedrural conditions."

GATT compatibility

will depend

on what

kind

of measure

would

be

adopted....


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Commission list:

Potential grounds to ban GMO cultivation

"Public morals (incl. religious, philosophical and ethical concerns);"

"Public order;"

"Avoiding GMO presence in other products....;"

"Social policy objectives...;"

"Town and country planning / land use;"

"Cultural policy...;"

"General environmental policy objectives, other than assessment of the adverse effectsof GMOs on environment...;"

Source: European Commission, Brussels, 08.02.2011, SEC(2011)184 final


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Nationalization of cultivation:

Issues to be taken into consideration

EU-wide authorization of GM plants for cultivation based on a scientificevaluation by EFSA has to be kept:

Farmers and industry need predictable and reliable conditions to work.

Freedom of choice has to be provided:Member States who want to offer to their farmers the freedom to choose modern

agricultural technology should be free to do so. Reticence in one Member Stateshould not restrict advancement in another.

The grounds for opting-out are problematic:Criteria suggested so far seem to contradict internal market and WTO law.

Co-existence should not be EU mandatory:Currently EU voluntary co-existence guidance exists and is an important tool toallow different farming systems to operate in parallel. Each Member State must

have the right to determine the appropriate nature of national coexistencemeasures.


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Thank you!

basf rm schmidt aldeseminar gmo 31032011

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