Greenpeace: The world must listen - Stop genetic engineering in food

Vienna, April 14, 1997 -- The European Commission should listen to the 1,226.551 Austrian citizens who signed the referendum calling on their government to stop the rele ase of genetically engineered organisms into food and the environment, Greenpeace Austria Executive Director Ulrike Schelander said today. The referendum on genetical engineering comes in second in the list of referenda in Austria. It is the most successful vote on enviromental issues.

"With this sensational result, the Austrian people have given a very strong signal to the other EU countries and the whole world: A vast part of our population does not want to eat genetically altered food. Now the politicians have to act accordingly", Schelander said. "It is not only Austrians who do not want genetic engineering in their food or environment. Greenpeace is getting a similar message from consumers and Governments right around Europe and beyond."

France and Italy have banned the growing of genetically engineered maize; Austria and Luxembourg have also banned its import. The EU Parliament last week strongly criticised the EU Commission for its outrageous behaviour in authorising genetically engineered maize.

European Commission President Jacques Santers' reaction to the Parliamentary resolution last week was not one of concern, but rather the opposite: he is trying to try to find ways to stifle such strong criticism from the Parliament in future.

This week the Commission has been summoned yet again to a meeting at the United States Department of Agriculture which has reacted to the European opposition to genetic engineering by saying `this shouldn't be allowed to happen.'

"For whom is Mr. Santer working - the United States Department of Agriculture or Europe? Are we to have no democracy or rights in Europe?", asked Greenpeace Director Schelander.

Following the successful referendum, Greenpeace and the other initiators demanded a package of immediate measures from the Austrian government:

• an immediate moratorium for all releases of GMOs;
• a ban on the production of genetically manipulated organisms;
• the import ban on GE maize has to be defended, if necessary up to the European Court;
• Austria should ban the import of GE soya;
• an Austrian veto against the EU patents directive;
• strict liability-regulations for GE production and transport;
• strict and comprehensive labelling of all GE food in Austria;
• Austria should be taking forward to the EU a proposal for a moratorium on releases of all GMOs in Europe.

"In 1978, the Austrian population voted against the nuclear plant Zwentendorf and thus, as the first country in the world, said no to nuclear power. Now Austria once again has become a worldwide pioneer, by pushing back genetically manipulated food and agricultural products", said Schelander.

for further information:

Matthias Schickhofer, Greenpeace Austria

Tel: ++43-1-7130061-44 or ++43-664-3386503 (mobile phone)

Attila Cerman, Greenpeace Austria

Tel: ++43-1-7130061-58 or ++43-663-9208162 (mobile phone)

Cindy Baxter, Greenpeace International, Tel: ++31-20-5236279

1) The referendum against genetical engineering was organised and supported by a broad coalition of environmental and animal protection organisations, Austrian farmers and parts of the catholic church of Austria. It was up for signing between April 7 - April 14:

• NO GENETICALLY MANIPULATED FOOD
  e. a ban to the production, import and sale of genetically manipulated food and agricultural products in Austria.
• NO GMO RELEASES IN AUSTRIA
  e. a ban for the release of genetically manipulated plants, animals and microorganisms.
• NO PATENTING OF LIFE
  e. a ban to the patenting of living beings.
  

2) According to Austrian law, every referendum that receives more than 100.000 signatures has to be dealt with by the parliament within one year. The most successful referendum in the past was against the construction of the Vienna Conference Centre in 1982 (1,361.562 signatures).

3) There are 5,76 million voters in Austria.

Overview