18.03.2003 |

NGOs criticise EU Commissions Round Table on Co-existence

A round table organised by the EU Commission on April 24th, which invites various stakeholders to listen to and comment on presentations of scientists and industry represenatitives on the technical details of cross-pollination in maize and rape seed, has been criticised by leading European NGOs. While an exchange of scientific evidence might be useful, such a meeting does not include all aspects of co-existence and does not match the democratic standards of a fair round table of stakeholders say Friends of the Earth Europe, Greenpeace International, European Environmental Bureau (EEB), Coordination Paysanne Europeenne (CPE) and the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). They would only participate in the meeting if a proper stakeholder round table was organised in addition.</p><p><a href="http://www.zs-l.de/gmo/downloads/ngos_round_table_18_03_03.pdf">Open letter of NGOs to the Commission</a>