Genetically modified (GM) crops can only be grown in Europe if contamination of organic and conventional foods is permitted, claims Friends of the Earth in a new 2006 publication entitled “Contaminate or legislate?”.

The environmental group is scathing of the European Commission organizing a conference on the “co-existence” of GM and non GM farming in Vienna, as part of the Austrian presidency of the EU. Friends of the Earth denounce that the Commission is only listening to industry whilst ignoring European law and the majority of the public.

The Commission’s policy on the “coexistence” of genetically modified (GM), conventional and organic crops, due to be presented at a conference entitled “Freedom of Choice”, refuses to accept that organic and conventional farming have the right to remain GMO free, and paves the way for GM crops to be grown over a larger area.

Friends of the Earth’s new publication insists that the Commission is pushing for “coexistence” rules to allow up to 0,9% GM contamination of conventional and organic crops, because anything containing up to 0,9% accidental GM contamination does not have to be labeled. But this denies consumers and farmers a genuine choice, and if accepted will lead to genetic contamination creeping inevitable upwards.

“Freedom of choice for whom?” asked Helen Holder, GMO campaigner at Friends of the Earth Europe. “The Commission is listening to the biotech industry and not its Member States and citizens”.

The European Commission’s policy on coexistence puts industry interests before all else and threatens the very existence of ecological farming and quality food. It refuses to include environmental and health aspects in “coexistence” and also blatantly ignores legal advices from a senior internationally lawyer who has found its policy on acceptable contamination levels “wrong in law”.

For more information, please visit the Biotechnology & GMOs section of the Friends of the Earth Europe website