Documents on the coexistence between genetically modified, conventional and organic crops in agriculture

Report by Mr Bernd Voss
>>Co-existence between genetically modified crops, and conventional and organic crops<<

available in the following languages (word document):

Agenda of the Plenary Session 15. December 2005

Economic and Social Affairs Committee general web-site of the EESC

EESC Hearing of experts on the issue, July 5th 2004

Short background information to the press by Mr Voss (pdf)

programme of the hearing, July 5th (pdf)

presentation of Dr. Jochen P. Zoller, Genetic ID Europe / Cert ID - Tests and certification(ppt)
        Detailed answers by Dr. Zoller to the Commissions questions

presentation of Mr. Paul Tenning, Syngenta: Coexistence - a seed industry perspective (ppt)

Vortrag von Stefan Hodapp, Raiffeisen Zentralgenossenschaft eG - Gentechnikfreie Mais-Produktion(ppt)

Vortrag von Herrn Franz Engelke, Geschäftsleiter der Kampffmeyer Mühlen GmbH Werk Wesermühlen Hameln (ppt)

presentazione di Mr Luca Colombo, Coop Italia (ppt)

presentation of Mr Georges Sicard, Fédération Nationale des Agriculteurs Multiplicateurs de Semences (FNAMS) at the first scientific Conference on Coexistence, October 2003

Pressemitteilung Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf, MdEP, "GVO: Wahlfreiheit heißt nicht die Freiheit des Stärkeren"

 

Scientific documents

Danish Scientific working group on co-existence (2004)
Report on co-existence (270 pages)
Summary of report

EU Joint research Centre, May 2002:
Scenarios for co-existence of genetically modified, conventional and organic crops in European agriculture

Presentation: Computer models of co-existence, Nathalie Colbach
Presentation: Economic Scenarios, John Kilpatrick
Presentation: The UK experience, Jeremy Sweet

Various Danish and European Institutes and DK Ministry for Agriculture (November 2003)
First European Conference on Co-existence of Geneticall Modified Drops with Conventional and Organic Crops
(Includes Abstracts and extensive list of recent research and literature)

Various British Scientists (October 2003)
The Farm Scale Evaluations of spring-sown genetically modified crops
The results of the farm-scale evaluations of three herbicide-tolerant GM crops - maize, beet and spring oilseed rape
1999-2002
Non-techinical summary of the findings
Scientific commentary from the authors

DG Research, "Round Table" on Co-existence of GM and non-GM crops (24. April 2003)
Presentations and Conclusions

Ecology Centre, University of Kiel, Germany (February 2004)
Spread of genetically modified (GM) oilseed rape – Relevance for Schleswig-Holstein Land, Germany

Various scientists in Austria, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom (2003)
Precautionary Expertise for GM Crops (PEG) - National workshop reports

EU Scientific Committee on Plants, 13. March 2001:
Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Plants concerning the adventitious presence of GM seeds in conventional seeds

Official EU Documents

Assembly of the European Regions, unanimous conclusions (15 May 2004) see points 25 ff
What future for rural areas in Europe?

Internal proposal of Commissioner Margot Wallström (April 2004)
Draft Commission decision establishing minimum thresholds for adventitious or technically unavoidable traces of genetically modified seeds in other products

European Parliament (December 2003)
Resolution on coexistence between genetically modified crops and conventional and organic crops (2003/2098(INI))

Agricultural Commissioner Franz Fischler (23 July 2003)
Guidelines for the development of national strategies and best practices to ensure the co-existence of genetically modified crops with conventional and organic farming
A legally non-binding list of considerations member states should take into account (in all member state languages)

Agricultural Commissioner Franz Fischler (5. March 2003)
Communication to the Commission on Co-existence of Genetically Modified, Conventional and Organic Crops (pdf)         same document in rtf format
An outline of the EU Commissions concept how not to regulate issues of liability, contamination and segregation at EU level, but leave it to individual member states.

Official National Documents

Ministry for Consumers and Agriculture, Germany (Sept 2004)
Summary of proposed revision of the German GMO law

Danish Parliament and Queen (June 9 2004)
Law on the growing of genetically modified crops (The Danish coexistence law, English translation)
                       FOE and Greenpeace: Critical c omments on the Danish law

Deutscher Bundestag (June 2004)
Novelle des Gentechnikgesetzes (new GMO law in German only)

German Bundestag (May 2004)
Resolution on seed purity and farmers choice
Original resolution in German

Österreichischer Bundestag
Österreichische Saatgut-Gentechnik-Verordnung von 2002
(Austrian Seed purity regulation, in German only)

 

additional documents and suggestions are welcome, please send to:
Benedikt Haerlin, Zukunftsstiftung Landwirtschaft, Marienstr.19-20, 10117 Berlin, fax +49 30 27590312, email: haerlin@zs-l.de

EU Council of Agricultural Ministers

2611th Council Meeting Agriculture and Fisheries Luxembourg, 18 October 2004
Excerpt: – GM co-existence
The Danish delegation, with the support of many delegations, requested for common rules on coexistence and the setting up of a Commission Task Force, which would co-ordinate collection and
dissemination of relevant information at EU level. The Danish delegation notified its recent legislation on co-existence to the Commission.
In addition, the Danish delegation and other delegations asked the Commission to confirm whether the limit value for labelling GMOs in seed is 0% until another figure is fixed.
The Commission representative welcomed the Danish initiative and undertook to examine that legislation within the best delays.
The Commission representative also pointed out that setting up such Task Force should not slow down considerable amount of work still to be done at national level. He favoured the role of an
enhanced EU-wide network, in particular on data collection and on agricultural best practices and experiences.
He also explained that, as no thresholds for the adventitious presence of GMOs in conventional seed lots have been established, any seed lot containing GM seeds authorised for the cultivation in the
EU has to be labelled as containing GMOs. Seed lots containing GM seeds not authorised for cultivation cannot be marketed in the EU.
Commissioner BYRNE expressed his long time views on supporting GM technology, in particular as regards scientific uses.
The President voiced some doubts on the need to set up a Task Force, as the Commission has already the necessary tools to achieve the established goals on co-existence.

Agri-Council 18th October 2004, Commission Press Release

Report from Agri-Council discussion September 2004 (with references)