Canadian farm groups hopeful WTO talks bring ...
OTC 22.01.99 23:44
Winnipeg, MB, Canada, Jan. 22, 1999 (Resource News International
via COMTEX) -- Canada's genetically modified organisms (GMOs),
such as canola remains tough to market to the European Union (EU)
as that region continues to ban imports due to its genetic
makeup. However, Canadian farm groups are hopeful that the
upcoming World Trade Organization (WTO) talks will be
constructive. The importing difficulty stems from Canada no
longer separating its GMO canola from traditional varieties in
the commercial grain handling system.
The EU has only granted regulatory approval to 1 of the 3
genetically modified types of canola now produced in Canada,
which has stopped all imports into the union.
Mark Zenuk, manager of country operations with Saskatchewan Wheat
Pool, denied recent rumors that the company is stopping in its
pursuit of European markets.
"It is true that there is legislation in place in the EU
that is hampering the marketing of genetically modified organisms
(GMOs) into that region. However, we (SWP) still view it as a
very strong market for the future and are currently working with
various groups to ensure that Canadian varieties receive
acceptance in that particular market place."
Zenuk said that SWP is optimistic the EU market will open for
Canadian GMO products with the upcoming WTO meetings seen as a
valuable tool for presenting further discussions on the issue.
Dale Adolphe, president of the Canadian Canola Council, agreed
with Zenuk, saying that the WTO meeting has the opportunity for
providing further access.
"They will be talking about non-tariff trade barriers in
Europe," stated Adolphe. "If a number of countries gang
up on Europe it might get the message across faster than any
bilateral talks have so far."
Adolphe is hopeful that something positive comes out of the WTO
talks. He added that both Canada and the US believe that Europe
is simply using consumer concern as an excuse to delay
science-based environmental reviews.
Adolphe added that it would be too soon to expect any possible
exports to that region in the year 2000, although he was
optimistic about 2001.
He noted that Canada is ahead of other regions in terms of
producing GMOs however, both the US and Australia are already
beginning to produce GMOs themselves. Adolphe said the EU may be
backing itself into a corner.
"If the EU continues to hamper any imports of GMOs, where
will it eventually get its supplies from if the major exporting
regions are producing it themselves?"
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