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Novas
regras na Europa que permitem a co-existencia de OGMs, orgânicos
e convencionais
GMOs:
Commission publishes recommendations to ensure co-existence of GM and
non-GM crops
Today the
European Commission published guidelines for the development of
strategies and best practices to ensure the co-existence of
genetically modified (GM) crops with conventional and organic
farming. They are intended to help Member States to develop workable
measures for co-existence in conformity with EU legislation. The
guidelines set out the general principles and the technical and
procedural aspects to be taken into account, and provide a list of
possible actions that could be tailored for implementation at
national or regional or local level.
Commenting on
the guidelines, Franz Fischler, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural
Development and Fisheries said: “We want to ensure that farmers
are able to cultivate the types of agricultural crops they choose be
it GM crops, conventional or organic crops. This is why we need
measures to ensure their co-existence. What is an efficient and
cost-effective best practice is specific to national and regional or
local conditions. This makes an EU-wide “one-size-fits-all”
approach unworkable. The recommendations are based on the latest
available research results, and provide a sound basis on which Member
States should build their approaches.”
Under the new
rules on GMOs as adopted yesterday by the Council (see IP/03/1056)
Member States have the possibility to take appropriate measures to
avoid the unintended presence of GMOs in other products, while the
Commission is asked to develop guidelines on the co-existence of
genetically modified, conventional and organic crops.
The guidelines
on co-existence complement the comprehensive regulatory framework
that the European Union has set up for dealing with GMOs and food and
feed produced from such organism. The EU will pursue its examination
of new GMOs which in accordance with EU law can only be authorised
for cultivation and/or marketing in the EU if they present no risk
for human health or the environment. A number of GMOs were and are
notified for authorisation and are being processed by the Commission
and the Member States.
The Commission
will carefully monitor the respect of EU legislation on GMOs. It will
address any possible problem arising from diverging measures at
Member State level that would not comply with EU legislation.
General
principles of the Guidelines
Building on
experience with existing segregation practices (e.g. in certified
seed production), approaches to co-existence need to be developed in
a transparent way, based on scientific evidence and in co-operation
with all concerned. They should ensure an equitable balance between
the interests of farmers of all production types. National strategies
and best practices should refer to the legal labelling thresholds and
purity standards for GM food, feed and seed.
Measures
should be efficient and cost-effective, without going beyond what is
necessary to comply with EU threshold levels for GMO labelling. They
should be specific to different types of crop, since the probability
of admixture varies greatly from one crop to another; while for some
crops the probability is high (e.g. oil seed rape) for others the
probability is fairly low (e.g. potatoes). In addition, local and
regional aspects should be fully taken into account.
The need for
strategies that ensure a fair balance between the interests of
farmers of all types of production is underlined. Farmers should be
able to choose the production type they prefer, without imposing the
necessity to change already-established production patterns in the
neighbourhood. As a general principle, during the phase of
introduction of a new production type in a region, farmers who
introduce the new production type should bear the responsibility of
implementing the actions necessary to limit admixture. Finally,
continuous monitoring and evaluation and the timely sharing of best
practices are indicated as imperatives for improving measures over
time.
Indicative
catalogue of measures
The
non-exhaustive list included in the guidelines indicates measures
that Member States could adapt or use in various combinations and
that become part of national co-existence strategies and best
practices. They could include:
on-farm
measures (such as isolation distances, buffer zones, pollen barriers
such as hedgerows),
co-operation
between neighbouring farms (such as information about sowing plans,
use of crop varieties with differing flowering time),
- monitoring
and notification schemes,
- training
for farmers,
- exchange
of information,
- advisory
services.
The
appropriate scale of measures for co-existence
Priority
should be given to management measures applicable on farm level and
in close co-operation with neighbouring farms depending on crop and
product type (e.g. seed versus crop production). Measure of a
regional dimension could be considered if they are proportioned and
if sufficient levels of purity cannot be achieved by other means.
Why should
Member States decide on co-existence measures and not the EU?
Following the
adoption of EU legislation on traceability and labelling and GM food
and feed Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release into the
environment of GMOs has been amended to allow for the possibility of
measures for co-existence at Member State level. Many of the factors
that determine what is efficient and cost-effective best practice are
specific to national and regional characteristics and farming
practices, which vary greatly from one Member State to another and
within national territories themselves. A
“one-size-fits-all” approach is therefore not appropriate.
Liability
Concerning the
question of liability in the event of economic damage resulting from
admixture, Member States are advised to examine their civil liability
laws to find out whether existing national laws offer sufficient and
equal possibilities in this regard. The type of approach to
co-existence adopted by Member States may have an impact on the
application of national liability rules. Farmers, seed suppliers and
other operators should be fully informed about the liability criteria
that apply in their country in the case of damage caused by
admixture. In this context, Member States may also want to explore
the feasibility and usefulness of adapting existing insurance
schemes, or setting up new schemes.
In two years
time the Commission will report to the Council and the European
Parliament about experiences gained in the Member States and on the
possible need for further steps to take.
What is
co-existence?
The issue of
co-existence refers to the ability of farmers to provide consumers
with a choice between conventional, organic and GM products that
comply with European labelling and purity standards. Co-existence is
not about environmental or health risks because only GM crops that
have been authorised as safe for the environment and for human health
can be cultivated in the EU. Since different types of agricultural
production are not naturally separated, suitable measures during
cultivation, harvest, transport, storage and processing are needed in
order to manage the possible accidental mixing (admixture) of GM and
non-GM crops resulting from seed impurities, cross-pollination,
volunteers(1) and harvesting-storage practices. Co-existence is
concerned with the potential economic loss through the admixture of
GM and non-GM crops which could lower their value, with identifying
workable management measures to minimise admixture, and with the cost
of these measures.
(1)seeds
remaining in the soil after harvest and producing new plants in
successive years
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