Upon the request of the Italian EU agricultural ministers discussed the "coexistence of conventional, organic and biotechnological forms of agriculture". Agricultural Commissioner Fischler announced a round table on the issue to be held in April this year and his intention to subsequently present sustainable solutions on this matter. A majority of member states supported the Italian view that no new authorisation of GM seeds should proceed until the issue of co-existence was resolved.</p><p><a href="http://www.zs-l.de/gmo/downloads/AG_council_coexistence_27_01_03.pdf">Submission of the Italian delegation</a></p><p><a href="http://www.zs-l.de/gmo/downloads/AG_council_28_01_03.pdf">Provisional minutes on the Council of Agricultural Ministers 28th January</a>

A report from a working group of Danish scientists on the co-existence of genetically modified crops with conventional and organic crops concludes that for maize, beets, potatoes, barley, wheat, oats, triticale, rye, lupine, broad beans and peas coexistence seems feasible, if an extensive list of farming measures was taken. However for "oilseed rape, grass seed, clover seed, and vegetable seed, the problem is so extensive, that further evaluation is required" the scientists write. Additional costs for farmers will vary considerably the group estimates.</p><p><a href="http://www.zs-l.de/gmo/downloads/dk_coexistence_sum.pdf">Summary of the working group report</a></p><p><a href="http://www.fvm.dk/high_final.asp?page_id=455 ">More information, some in English, available here</a>

Already 15 years ago when the discussion on effects of the release of genetically modified plants started in Europe, gene flow from genetically modified plants to conventionally bred plants of the same species or to its close relatives was one of the major concerns. However, representatives of the relevant industry usually stated that gene flow would not occur, or if it ever did occur, genes would not persist in those populations. Nowadays the occurrence of gene flow and the persistence of transferred genes are no longer questioned. But supporters of genetically modified plants are asking: gene flow - so what - A Special Issue of the<a href="http://www.oeko.de/oeko_en/indexb_en.html">Oeko-Institute</a>(Freiburg, Germany)special newsletter tackles this question. What are, or could be, the consequences of gene flow from genetically modified plants - What is known about gene flow - What kind of research is done in this field or what should be done - And what about regulations and law on this issue?><a href="http://www.zs-l.de/gmo/downloads/geneflow_oekoinstitut.pdf">Gene flow so what?</a>

Studies carried out between 1994 and 2000 by the National Institute of Agricultural Botany on GMO farm trials in the United Kingdom show that genes from GM oil seed rape, specially engineered to be resistant to herbicides, contaminated conventional crops as far as 200 meters away. GM oil seed rape that escaped from a crop harvested in 1996 persisted for at least four years, until studies ended in 2000. In another case, the report adds: "It was found that some combine harvesters were not cleaned after the harvesting of the GM crop,'' and "subsequently flushed out'' the GM seed on to ground intended for conventional crops "causing contamination of this field.'' Most worryingly of all, the report shows that the GM crop readily interbred with wild relatives and weeds, wild turnip, giving it resistance to herbicides and thus raising the prospect of the development of "super weeds". The report concludes: "if transgenic oilseed rape is grown on a large scale in the UK, then gene flow will occur between fields, farms and across landscapes".</p><p><a href="http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/research/epg-1-5-84.htm">Summary and full study published by DEFRA</a></p><p><a href="http://www.foe.org.uk/pubsinfo/infoteam/pressrel/2003/20030102150652.html">press release of Friends of the Earth UK</a>

One year after the recall of a genetically engineered corn variety "Starlink" of Aventis (now Bayer) has been completed in the US and growing of that GMO is banned there, Japanese authorities have stopped a cargo of US corn on Dec 26th as it was contaminated with the illegal GMO. Traders at the Chicago board of trade expect falling imports as a result. The US Department of Agriculture said is was unable to identify the sources of the contamination so far.</p><p><a href="http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/19243/story.htm">Reuters on Starlink 30 Dec 02</a>

The European Council of Environment Ministers agreed today on a compromise regarding traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms in food, feed and the environment. The regulation requires unique identifiers for GMOs and precise inidication of each GMO in any particular food, feed or seed lot and their shipments. It will also allow for monitoring of GMOs in the environment and This regulation will complement the EU regulations on genetically modified food and feed, which have been adopted by the Council of Agricultural ministers on November 28th. Some of the provisions regarding thresholds for unintended presence of certain GMOs and their labelling are still contentious between the Council and the Parliament, which will have to adopt the regulation in spring 2003. And interim allowance for up to 0,5% of GMOs not authorised within the EU, but considered safe by it`s scientific advisory bodies, might not be approved by the Parliament.Common Position of the Council of Ministers for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms and the traceability of food and feed products produced from genetically modified organisms, December 9, 2002 (preliminary version)<a href="http://www.zs-l.de/gmo/downloads/eu_traceability_council_agreem_09122002.pdf">official text of the Council</a></p><p><a href="http://www.zs-l.de/gmo/downloads/eu_traceability_memo_09122002.pdf">Memorandum on the Common Position</a>

The US Company Prodigene (subsidiary of Stauffer seeds) has been fined 250.000 $ in addition to liability charges as some of the genetically modified corn the company had grown had contaminated soybean fields and subsequently 500 000 bushels of soybeans. The beans have been quaratined, when they were found contaminated in November 2002.</p><p><a href="http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/2002/12/0498.htm">USDA press release</a></p><p><a href="http://www.zs-l.de/gmo/downloads/prodigene_long.pdf">The full story of the Prodigene incidence</a>

The European Commission has established a network of GMO laboratories. This new network consists of more than 45 control laboratories located in EU Member States. The objective is to improve traceability of GMOs in the food chain and to support regulation of their use in Europe. The network will develop and validate methods for detecting and quantifying GMOs in food and feed. Activities will be co-ordinated by the European Commission`s Joint Research Centre.</p><p><a href="http://europa.eu.int/rapid/cgi/rapcgi.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/02/1795-0- RAPID&lg=EN&display=">European network of GMO laboratories</a></p><p><a href="http://europa.eu.int/rapid/cgi/rapcgi.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/02/1795-0- RAPID&lg=DE&display=">Europäisches Netzwerk von GMO Laboratorien</a>

The Council of Agricultural ministers today agreed on a common position for new regulations of GMO food and feed labelling and aproval. The regulation still needs final approval by the European Parliament, which is expected in spring 2003. The most important changes proposed are:Feed containing GMOs will have to be labelled (so far only food had to be labelled) - this covers over 80% of all GMOs on the European market.Also products, where the DNA or protein of the GMO can no longer be traced, must be labelled (e.g. oil, starch, sugar)The thresholds for adventitious presence of GMOs, which need not be labelled, has been lowered to 0,9% (the EP demands 0,5% however)<a href="http://www.zs-l.de/gmo/downloads/eu_foodfeed_memo.pdf">Memorandum on Council Position on GMO Food and Feed</a></p><p><a href="http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/02/1770-0- RAPID&lg=EN&display=">Press Release of Commissioner Byrne</a></p><p><a href="http://www.zs-l.de/gmo/downloads/EUs_food_GP_PM021128.rtf">Greenpeace International press release</a>

More than 30 US seed companies have signed a "Safe Seed Pledge", not to use and distribute genetically modified seeds. They state: "Agriculture and seeds provide the basis upon which our lives depend. We must protect this foundation as a safe and genetically stable source for future generations. For the benefit of all farmers, gardeners and consumers who want an alternative, we pledge that we do not knowingly buy or sell genetically engineered seeds or plants."<a href="http://www.gene-watch.org/programs/safeseed/sourcebook.html">The Safe Seed Sourcebook Online</a> THE SAFE SEED SOURCEBOOK