Greens welcome GM food trade safety protocol

The new biosafety protocol on GM food trade means an international acknowledgement of the environmental risks associated with such produce, says Irish campaign group Genetic Concern.

After five years of protracted negotiations 140 countries agreed to the protocol last weekend. Its significance in stark contrast to the World Trade Organisation talks collapse in Seattle is reflected in the agreement by all sides that environmental concerns and trade rules have been reconciled, notwithstanding the possibility of a legal challenge to some of its provisions.

Much of its benefits in allowing countries to decide whether to accept GM food imports and to set their own rules on genetically modified organisms could be undermined, however, by a long lead-in time for its ratification, Genetic Concern spokeswoman Ms Jo Goldsmid said this week.

Despite US reservations (and with EU insistence), it also accepts the guiding influence of the "precautionary principle" in the event of scientific uncertainty.

This, Ms Goldsmid said, was "really promising". However, it will require the signatures of 50 countries before it is ratified, which may take until 2003. The contentious issue of labelling GM foods may not be resolved for a further two years. The US administration welcomed a comprehensive set of rules balancing the goals of trade in GMOs and protection of the world's ecosystems. The undersecretary for global affairs and head of the US delegation, Mr Frank Loy, said this should make it easier to harness the promises of biotechnology "to feed the world's growing population, using less land, less water, fewer pesticides".

Green Party MEP Ms Nuala Ahern said key demands from green groups had been taken on board. These included acceptance that the protocol would not be subordinate to the WTO, and set procedures for GM commodities. She added that it was a pity that measures on traceability and segregation of GM foods were not being enforced.

Meanwhile, Green TD Mr John Gormley has dismissed the move by Monsanto to change its name to Pharmacia following its recent $50 billion merger with the US-Swiss drugs giant Pharmacia & Upjohn. It was a public relations exercise in the face of "terrible publicity" surrounding its GM food business, he said.

Such a drastic move reflected the strength of feeling against the company. "Monsanto and their GM crusade will not succeed in any guise," he predicted.