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GM feed proposal ‘a dangerous precedent’

The pig farmers' share of the retail pork price is at an eight-year high
The pig farmers' share of the retail pork price is at an eight-year high

Proposals to allow European member states to approve or ban the use of genetically-modified (GM) feed have been attacked by farming bodies.

The European Commission has proposed a change in the decision-making surrounding the use of GM feed or food. This would mean member states could allow or ban the use of any GM product in animal feed or food. NFU Scotland said the proposals would send the European livestock sector into disarray.

“With this proposal, Europe runs the risk of setting a dangerous precedent which goes against the core principle of having common policies that operate across Europe. Approval of GM feed and food must remain at an EU-wide level and be firmly based on sound scientific evidence,” said president Allan Bowie.

He warned the pig and poultry sectors would be worst hit, as they rely on imported protein as a huge part of their rations.

“Options for growing our own protein for animals remain limited so Europe will continue to be largely reliant on imports for the majority of its protein feed requirements. An estimated 90% of compound feed for the livestock sector currently contains GM material,” added Mr Bowie.

“Were GM feed not available to our farmers, the increase in costs associated in sourcing non-GM feed would be prohibitive and render sections of our industry unviable. The price differential between GM and GM-free animal feed is already around 30% and supplies of non-GM feed are extremely limited.”

His concerns were shared by Copa-Cogeca – the Brussels-based group representing farming unions and co-operatives.

The organisation’s secretary general, Pekka Pesonen, said the proposals would “seriously threaten the internal market for food and feed products”.

“It is the principal political, administrative and legal responsibility of EU policymakers to defend and properly implement EU internal market and related legislation,” said Mr Pesonen. “With the renationalisation of genetically-modified authorisations and consequent restrictions on the free movement and use of products within the internal market, the commission has failed in its role and responsibility as ‘guardian of the EU treaties’.”

Commenting on the proposed changes to legislation, a Scottish Government spokesman said: “We are reviewing the details of the proposals to see what this means for Scotland’s farmers and the food and feed industry. The commission’s proposed changes to the GM legislation for food and feed are not what we anticipated, and we note the negative reaction by farmers and the feed industry, as well as NGOs to the commission’s proposals.

“It is difficult at this time to see how the proposals will comply with internal market and WTO (World Trade Organisation) rules, and we are concerned member states could be open to legal challenge if taking up this option.”

George Lyon – Page 9