War of GMOs in the United States. Complicate relations with the European Union? – Virtual Poland

US Congress, supported by the food industry lobby, wants to introduce a ban on mandatory labeling of genetically modified foods (GMOs) in the whole country. This can further complicate negotiations ws. Free trade agreement between the EU and the United States.

In contrast to the European Union in the United States, where GM food makes up 70-80. percent. whole foods, there is no obligation labeling of GMOs. The vast majority of American scientists believe that GMO food is healthy. But the public does not share that view. In the January survey, the Pew Research Center until 57 percent. respondents believed that the consumption of GM food is unsafe; only 37 percent. the opposite view.

The result of these concerns are campaigning under the slogan “Right to know” (with English. the right to know) conducted by the opponents of GMOs, which resulted in the recent referendums on the mandatory labeling of GMOs in some states. Although the group representing the interests of the food industry and the biotechnology industry spent millions of dollars to fight such initiatives, referendums in several states have been successful. For now, only the state of Vermont in 2016 decided to make it compulsory labeling of GM foods, but some others may follow in his footsteps.

It is possible, however, that the US Congress that forbid them. Group of 20 MPs (12 Republicans and eight Democrats) filed last week a draft bipartisan bill called “Healthy and appropriate labeling,” which is to create a purely voluntary system of labeling of GMOs, while preventing states from introducing stricter rules themselves.

The two MPs from the Democratic Party in Congress by a competitive project that involves the mandatory labeling of all genetically modified foods, and also prohibits the advertising of such products as “natural”. But his chances in the Republican-controlled Congress are virtually nil.

“The labels are unnecessary”

The representatives of the agri-food industry argue that GMO products are so ubiquitous in the US market, that the introduction of the labeling requirement is unnecessary because only unnecessarily confuse consumers. – This would mean that 70-80 percent. the food we eat, would have to be labeled GMO – told quoted in the newspaper “The Hill,” vice president of the association of food processors (Grocery Manufacturers Association – GMA) Denzel McGuire. In his opinion, it would be contrary to the existing practice, according to which the labeling subject only to the exceptions to the rule. – But at the grocery store do not have products labeled as “inorganic” – he added.

Also, the editors of the newspaper “Washington Post” stand up for the food industry, arguing that the products do not require labeling of GMOs. “Mandatory labeling odstraszałoby from buying GM foods, while there is no evidence for such care. (…) If the cultivation of GMOs are dangerous to health, it would already be an expert is identified in two decades the consumption of GM crops. It did not happen “- wrote a diary. He argues that mandatory labeling would lead to price increases while the food for the poor.

What TTIP?

The American Academy of Sciences and the World Health Organization concluded that the food GM is not a major threat than other food. However, in the countries of the European Union GMO has a significant public opposition and the food is practically no sales (which constitutes less than 1 per cent.). The proportion of genetically modified crops in the EU is only 0.5 percent. compared with 85-90 percent. in the United States.

As the American agriculture is based on the GMO issue is an important point in the transatlantic negotiations on a free trade agreement (TTIP). Some advocates of TTIP hope that a compromise solution to the profound differences between the US and the EU against GMOs could be just the obligatory marking of American food exports to the EU, so that European consumers can make informed choices about what they buy and eat.

Experts rule out however, that Washington has approved a trade agreement with the EU with the exception of agriculture. – I can not imagine that the US government ended negotiations or that Congress approved the agreement, if the US agriculture will in any way excluded – Miriam Sapiro said the fall was the principal deputy representative. Trade in the government of the United States in the years 2009-14 responsible m.in . for negotiations with the EU, and is now an expert in Brookings Institutions.