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While the French farmers and transport operators have been the only nationals to take on their government over the price of fuel (aiming their action at government fuel taxes) European Union farm ministers were divided Tuesday over how fast to clear new genetically modified crops and maintain public confidence already battered by a series of health scandals. France, as current EU president, is trying to build a consensus around the cautious position on genetically modified crops. But at an informal meeting of EU farm ministers it was criticized by several member states for being "too defensive." In a strongly worded policy paper drawn up ahead of the meeting in the resort town of Biarritz, France called on governments "to slow down or stop this mad dash for production. "It has to be recognized that the imposition of GM foods by large multinational companies raises serious doubts as to their basic motive since their enthusiasm for health and environment protection has never been spectacular," it said. French farm minister Jean Glavany said two member states, Belgium and the Netherlands, openly criticized the text for being too cautious. Officials added that both Germany and Britain also urged the EU should be more positive. "Some felt it was too cautious. We now have to work toward harmonizing views," Glavany told a press conference after the two day meeting. However, France has a major ally in Italy, whose farm minister Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio is an outspoken critic of new gene-altered crops. The split threatens to make it more difficult for EU food safety commissioner David Byrne to push through plans to kick-start the EU's GM authorization procedure, which has been stalled by an unofficial moratorium. Much to the annoyance of the United States, the world's major gene-altered crop grower, the EU has not cleared any such crop for three years, waiting for new legislation. Byrne said the legislation would be finalized over the next few months and would include provisions on labeling, traceability, time limited authorizations, and a continuing need for research. EU farm commissioner Franz Fischler said the reality of GM crops could not be ignored, either within EU food production or in imported goods. But the Commission would continue with an approach based on giving consumers full information. "We should not disregard what biotechnology has to offer," Fischler said. "We must also include the probable economic and social implications."
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