Posted on 29-5-2003

Egypt Withdraws From WTO GM Offensive

US-led trade war coalition starts to crumble.

BRUSSELS, MAY 28, 2003 - Attempts by the United States administration to
force Europe to accept Genetically Modified (GM) food and crops received a
serious blow after Egypt announced that it would not be part of a World
Trade Organisation challenge to the European Union's de facto moratorium on
approving new GM licenses. The Egyptian Government says that it has taken
its decision because it recognizes "the need to preserve adequate and
effective consumer and environmental protection."

On 13 May the United States said that it would be joined by Argentina,
Canada and Egypt in filing a World Trade Organisation (WTO) case
against Europe over "its illegal five-year moratorium on approving
agricultural biotech products" [1]. But the Egyptian Government says that
it has decided "not to become a party" to the WTO complaint. In a letter
[2] dated May 27 the Egyptian ambassador to the European Union wrote that
"The Government of Egypt took this decision in conscious emulation of the
need to preserve adequate and effective consumer and environmental
protection, and with the desire to reduce further distortions and
impediments to international trade that may result due to the further
pursuit of this matter within the WTO".

Europeans are concerned about the threat that GM crops pose to food,
farming and the environment. There are also fears about the long-term
health impacts from eating GM food. Opinion polls show that 70% of the
European public don't want GM food and 94% want to be able to choose
whether or not they eat it (Eurobarometer 2001).

Friends of the Earth Europe's GM campaigner Geert Ritsema said: "We're
delighted that Egypt has withdrawn from this US attempt to force GM food
and crops into Europe. Countries should be allowed to choose what they eat
and what they grow in their fields. The United States should withdraw its
WTO challenge, and stop trying to bully Europe over GMOs."

Notes:

1. Official US press release at www.ustr.gov/releases/2003/05/03-31.pdf

2. A copy of the letter sent to the European Consumers' Organisation (BEUC)
by the Egyptian ambassador to the European Union is available from Friends
of the Earth and the BEUC.