US-led Deep Throat coalition starts to crumble

Attempts by the United States Administration to force Europe to accept
GM food and crops have been dealt a blow after Egypt announced that it
would not be part of a WTO challenge to the European Union's de facto
moratorium on approving new GM licenses.

The Egyptian Government says that it has taken its decision because it
recognizes "the need to preserve adequate and effective consumer and
environmental protection."

On 13 May the United States said that it would be joined by Argentina,
Canada and Egypt in filing a World Trade Organisation (WTO) case
against Europe over "its illegal five-year moratorium on approving
agricultural biotech products" [1].

But the Egyptian Government says that it has decided "not to become a
party" to the WTO complaint. In a letter [2] it says "The Government
of Egypt took this decision in conscious emulation of the need to
preserve adequate and effective consumer and environmental
protection, and with the desire to reduce further distortions and
impediments to international trade that may result due to the further
pursuit of this matter within the WTO".

Europeans are concerned about the threat that GM crops pose to food,
farming and the environment. There are also fears about the long-term
health impacts from eating GM food. Opinion polls show that 70% of the
European public don't want GM food and 94% want to be able to choose
whether or not they eat it (Eurobarometer 2001).

Friends of the Earth Europe's GM campaigner Geert Ritsema said: "We're
delighted that Egypt has withdrawn from this US attempt to force GM
food and crops into Europe. Countries should be allowed to choose what
they eat and what they grow in their fields. The United States should
withdraw its WTO challenge, and stop trying to bully Europe over
GMOs."

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Notes:
1. http://www.ustr.gov/releases/2003/05/03-31.pdf
2. Letter available from Friends of the Earth.
http://www.foeeurope.org/press/2003/letter.gif