The European Commission warned three EU governments (France, Germany and Greece) to bring their national laws on genetically modified foods into line with EU law or face legal action at Europe`s highest court.</p><p><a href="http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/31691/story.htm">Reuters</a></p><p><a href="http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/947&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en"> Environmental infringements: Commission takes legal action against Germany and Spain</a></p><p><a href="http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/954&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en"> Greece: Commission takes action over breaches of environmental law</a></p><p><a href="http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/950&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en"> France: Commission takes further action in ten environmental infringement cases</a>

"For the past few years, Monsanto and Greenpeace have fought pitchedbattles all around the world over the issue of genetically modifiedcrops. The two icons of the GM debate, however, are facing a tough, newadversary - China," finds the Financial Times. The South China Morning Post describes the man behind ongoing illegal cultivation of GM rice in the country.</p><p><a href="http://www.saveourseeds.org/downloads/ft_china_rice_25june2005.pdf">FT: Controversy grows over China`s biotech crops</a></p><p><a href="http://www.agbios.com/main.php?action=ShowNewsItem&id=6670">South China Morning Post: Seeds of Ignorance</a>

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) calls for an international framework to assess the safety of genetically modified (GM) trees before they are commercialised.Genetic modification activities in forestry are taking place in at least 35 countries, with the vast majority of research still restricted to the laboratory</p><p><a href="http://www.scidev.net/content/news/eng/un-body-urges-caution-over-gm-trees.cfm"></a>Science and Development: UN body urges caution over GM trees

Japan has discovered a fourth U.S. feed grain cargo tainted with Syngentas illegal GM maize bt10, and the importer must either destroy it or ship it back to the United States.</p><p><a href="http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/business/article.adp?id=20050706231109990013&cid=1209">AOL News - Japan finds 4th U.S. corn cargo tainted with Bt-10</a></p><p><a href="http://www.isb.vt.edu/news/2005/news05.jul.htm#jul0503">Information Systems for Biotechnology: Bt10 slips into the stream of Commerce</a>

A "strategic research agenda for European research in plant genomics and biotechnology" was launched by the EU Commission and the GMO industries lobby organisation "EuropaBio", supported by science and farmers organisations in Strasbourg. The plan outlines billions of research investments in the "bio-economy" over the next 15 years and within the 7th EU research framework programme. This vision of a genetically engineered European agriculture from food to bio-fuels will be discussed in the member states over the next month.</p><p><a href="http://www.europabio.org/ne_SRAGreen.htm">EuropaBio: Press release and presentations</a></p><p><a href="http://www.copa-cogeca.be/en/pressreleases.asp">COPA-COGECA Press release (E,F,I,D)</a></p><p><a href="http://www.europabio.org/SRAGreen/Potocnik%20speech.pdf">Speach of Commissioner Potocnic</a></p><p><a href="http://www.epsoweb.org/">European Plant Science Organisation (EPSO) Homepage</a>

A plan by Cyprus to put genetically modified food on separate supermarket shelves angered the United States. Washington warned the move could harm bilateral ties.</p><p><a href="http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L06117419.htm">Reuters AlertNet - US says Cyprus ties could suffer over GMO plan</a>

The European Parliaments committee on environment and consumer protection invites informal expression of interest in a "Panel of Food Safety Experts" to advise on issues such as Genetically Modified Organisms, BSE/TSE and control of other biological hazards, Food additives, flavourings and other food improvement agents, Foods for particular nutritional uses and nutrition. The Committee is not looking for expertise in narrow areas of specialisation, but for good communicators who can provide clear and concise briefings for EP Members on the implications of new EU policy proposals. Deadline: 15th July.</p><p><a href="http://www.europarl.eu.int/comparl/envi/pdf/expert_panels/announcement_food_safety.pdf">EP announcement on Food Safety experts</a>

The Dutch parliament has, with a large majority, accepted a motion (resolution) demanding a 0,1% threshold of GM labelling in seed:</p><p>"Considering, that seeds and seedlings stand at the start of the multiplication of crops; Determining, that the freedom of choice of producers would be threatenedif propagating material was more heavily contaminated than 0,1% - thisbeing the detection level;Declares, that the detection level of 0,1% in seeds and seedlings willbe adhered to;Requests the government to do all it can to ensure that this norm isestablished in European law"</p><p> The motion was put forward by the social an christian democrats (PvdA, CDA) and the Christian Union (christen unie).Cees Veerman, minister of agriculture said he would strife for a 0,1% threshold in seed at the EU level.</p><p><a href="http://www.saveourseeds.org/downloads/NL-Parliament_seeds01_22_06_05_nl.pdf"> Adopted Parliament resolution (in Dutch)</a>

Lecithin emulsifiers added to thousands of processed foods in small quantities are mainly derived from soybeans. If these soybeans are genetically modified this leads to labelling the entire product (e.g. chocolate) as GM. Hence demand for non-GM soya-lecithin now outpaces supply in Europe. Companies such as Danisco are offering non-soya substitutes, which save the trouble. The EU lecithin market is estimated around 300 mio Euros.</p><p><a href="http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/news/news-ng.asp?n=61019-danisco-emulsifier-to">Food.com: Danisco emulsifier to subsitute non-GM soy lecithin as demand outstrips supply</a>

Monsanto has sued two Danish importers to pay patent royalties for RoundupReady soybeans imported from Argentina. In Argentina, where 95 % of soybeans are GM, the beans are being grown without paying licence fees to the company. So far the Argentinian government refused to agree on a royalty deal with the company. Now the company tries to put pressure on the country, whose economy strongly depends on soybean exports (7,6 billion $ in 2004). Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant said: "We need to demonstrate that we do have the right to protect our intellectual property at the point of import" and threatened to take more legal actions in Europe. Argentinas Ag minister Miguel Campos called Monsanto "a national embarrassment".</p><p><a href="archiv/www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/12036471.htm">Associated Press: Argentina to fight Monsanto in court, suspend soybean talks</a></p><p><a href="http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticleSearch.aspx?storyID=239071 28-Jun-2005 RTRS&srch=Monsanto">Reuters: Monsanto sues in soy royalty spat with Argentina</a></p><p><a href="http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticleSearch.aspx?storyID=244333+29-Jun-2005+RTRS&srch=Monsanto">Reuters: Argentina soy exports seen slow after Monsanto suit</a>