Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales MEPs have welcomed today's vote in the European Parliament which will make it more difficult for countries to cynically use food aid to developing countries as a means of promoting GM food.

Speaking after the vote on the legislation regulating exports of genetically modified organisms to non-EU countries, Jill Evans MEP, who is spokesperson for the Greens/EFA Group on the proposals said:

"Today's vote makes it clear that no countries should be forced to accept GM food aid without their prior agreement. This will help to prevent companies and governments from dumping GM food or seed aid on those who don't want it. All countries, including the poorest countries, should have freedom of choice.

"Bolivia, Columbia, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Ecuador are all examples of countries that have been forced to accept GM food aid within the past two years - even though this was often contrary to national regulations."

"Countries such as Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe have taken a stance against the untested and unproven nature of GMOs, and it is totally unacceptable that it is being forced upon them by countries such as the US."

"It’s about time that countries took more pro-active steps to ensure international biosafety. Today’s decision is an important step forward in the GM debate."

Jill Evans MEP is leader of Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales in the European Parliament and is a prominent member of the Parliament’s Environment Committee.

DIWEDD/END.

Notes

The Greens/EFA Group welcomes the support for the Sjostedt report on Proposals for an European Parliament and Council regulation on the Transboundary Movement of GMOs for the following reasons:

No export without prior informed consent: Amendment 60 states "no first transboundary movement of a GMO intended directly or indirectly for deliberate release into the environment shall take place without the prior written consent" of the country of import.

Export notification for GMOs: Although the Commission requires prior informed consent of third countries only for GMOs intended for deliberate releases (e.g. seeds) Parliament wishes this requirement to apply to all GMOs including food and feed.

GM products: compliance with law of importing countries. Where products derived from or produced with the aid of GMOs are exported, exporters shall be required by EU law to comply with the laws of the importing country.

Notifier/ Exporter: In line with the Protocol, Euro-MPs demand the exporter (instead of the "notifier" who could also be an importer) to have the obligation to notify the 'party of import' and to be responsible for the accuracy of information provided.

Prevention of transboundary GM contamination: amendment 59 requires Member States to prevent unintentional transboundary movements of GMOs. Although the Protocol includes such obligation, the Commission's proposal did not mention it.

Capacity building: Parliament requires the Commission and Member States to co-operate in the development / strengthening of human resources and institutional capacities in bio-safety.

Liability: Parliament calls upon the Commission and Member States to support the elaboration of international rules and procedures in the field of liability and compensation for transboundary damage caused by GMOs.